Domestication Test

What does BCE stand for?

Before common era

What does AD stand for?

Anno Domini

A date may be referenced with the BC/BCE ____ the year number

after (never before)

Is there a year 0?

Not technically, it is just a reference for learning

Order the following dates in chronological order: 450 BC, AD 2014, AD 2013, 1000 BC

1000 BC, 450 BC, AD 2013, AD 2014

How many years are between 5000 BC and 2000 BC

3000

On a timeline, which of the following are the EARLIEST date (longest ago): 1 BC, 1500 BC, 6000 BC, 2023 BC?

6000 BC

On a timeline, which of the following dates is the MOST RECENT: 1 AD, 1500 AD, 6000 AD, 2024 AD?

2024 AD

Which of the following dates is the EARLIEST (longest ago): 11,000 BC, 10,000 BC, 9,000 BC, 8,000 BC?

11,000 BC

How would you “count” the dates from the different eras?

AD years are counted forwards and BC years are counted backwards

Is BCE before or after the “year 0'“?

before

What is the difference between “taming” and “domesticating”?

taming is a conditioned behavior in an individual of a wild species that allows them to grow accustomed to human presence, domestication is a permanent genetic alteration of a species that will change behavioral and physical traits to better suit the entire species to human care

Briefly describe what we mean by “Domestication Syndrome”

Domestication syndrome refers to the changes, physically and behaviorally, a domesticated species undergoes

How are Morphology and Allometry related?

They both have to do with changing/morphing the species to grow more accustomed to human perception. Specifically, allometry effects morphology, morphology relates to structural traits, and allometry refers to how an organism changes in relation to proportional body changes. For instance, if an organism adapts to be larger in size due to allometry, the organism should have a proportionally larger head, undergoing a morphological change.

What is “neoteny”?

Neoteny is the retention of juvenile features in the adult stage of an animal’s life, meaning that the species would inherit traits (behaviorally and physically) of that usually found in the juvenile form.

Considering the timeline for domestication, why were most early domesticated species larger animals?

larger animals provide more goods (food), as well as were better at transporting humans in a once very nomadic society, because they could physically support more than smaller animals

What are natural traits that made it easier to domesticate some species?

shorter flight distance, diversified diet, gregarious nature, scavenging, curious nature

List 5 things about cattle that we have intentionally changed and why?

1. changed the meat to fat ratio in cattle to provide meat more efficiently

2. dairy cattle: decreased muscle mass so the nutrients they’re given go more towards milk production

3. size- dependent on use (mini highland cows as pets; angus cattle larger meat production)

4. mating time: able to breed year round

5. thicker hair (in show cattle) to become accustomed to harsher environments

Explain the role in neural crest cells in domestication

neural crest cells alter the amount of adrenaline produced, as well as brain size, physical, and behavioral traits. domestication decreases the size of neural crest cells, reducing the flight, fight, or freeze response, and allowing for infant like traits to be perceived as more approachable and more likable to humans

Explain the “cute response”

The cute response explains that people naturally view infantile like features (big head, round eyes, small teeth) as cute, because it invokes are innate ability to care for our own offspring by giving us an incentive to look at something cute

How is the cute response different from cute aggression?

the cute response focuses on why we view infantile creatures as cute, whereas cute aggression focuses on the fact that seeing something as cute can be an overwhelming feeling, so it may be exerted as anger (like pinching a babies cheeks)

Why was plant domestication important/necessary for domestication

sustainable food supply to entice animals to domesticate and a stable food supply to allow settlements to last long enough to domestication of animals

Scientists discovered that as foxes were artificially selected over the generations to be more friendly, what happened?

changes occurred in their DNA

Do individuals animals within a species have to self-domesticate before the species can be fully domesticated?

No

Can domestication be reversed within 6 generations of animals with the right genetics?

No

Is there extensive production of non-domesticated animals for production purposes?

no

Can you replicate an exact original version of an animal species due to long-term collection/protection of DNA discovered from ancestors?

No

Are feral animals still considered domesticated?

No

Are all exotic animal pets considered domesticated?

No

Do all domesticated animals have to establish a social hierarchy among themselves?

No

Does the genetically wild animal have to willingly approach humans in order to begin the domestication process?

No

When was the first species of animal domesticated?

that is factually unknown

How can you differentiate a domestic dog skull from a wold skull?

smaller teeth and larger eye sockets (think of neoteny)

Dogs with “jobs” such as herding retain what?

a somewhat higher brain capacity

A tiger raised on a bottle in captivity and used in daily wild animal show is considered?

tame

What are the conditions for considering an animal domesticated?

it must be breed in captivity, live in close proximity to humans, and live in a confined environment

What is domestication syndrome?

a set of traits shared by domesticated plants and animals and a form of genetic engineering