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'''Domestication''' (from [[Latin]] domesticus) or taming is the [[process]] whereby a [[population]] of [[animals]] or [[plants]], through a process of selection, becomes accustomed to [[human]] provision and [[control]]. A defining characteristic of domestication is [[artificial]] selection by [[humans]]. Some [[species]] such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Elephant Asian Elephant], numerous members of which have for many centuries been used as working [[animals]], are not domesticated because they have not normally been [[Reproduction|bred]] under human [[control]], even though they have been commonly tamed. [[Humans]] have brought these [[populations]] under their care for a wide range of reasons: to produce [[food]] or valuable commodities  (such as wool, cotton, or silk), for help with various [[types]] of [[work]] (such as [[transportation]] or [[protection]]), for protection of themselves and livestock and for [[scientific]] [[research]], such as finding cures for certain [[diseases]] or simply to enjoy as companions or ornaments.

'''Domestication''' (from [[Latin]] domesticus) or taming is the [[process]] whereby a [[population]] of [[animals]] or [[plants]], through a process of selection, becomes accustomed to [[human]] provision and [[control]]. A defining characteristic of domestication is [[artificial]] selection by [[humans]]. Some [[species]] such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Elephant Asian Elephant], numerous members of which have for many centuries been used as working [[animals]], are not domesticated because they have not normally been [[Reproduction|bred]] under human [[control]], even though they have been commonly tamed. [[Humans]] have brought these [[populations]] under their care for a wide range of reasons: to produce [[food]] or valuable commodities  (such as wool, cotton, or silk), for help with various [[types]] of [[work]] (such as [[transportation]] or [[protection]]), for protection of themselves and livestock and for [[scientific]] [[research]], such as finding cures for certain [[diseases]] or simply to enjoy as companions or ornaments.

[[Plants]] domesticated primarily for aesthetic enjoyment in and around the [[home]] are usually called house plants or ornamentals, while those domesticated for large-scale [[food]] production are generally called crops. A distinction can be made between those domesticated [[plants]] that have been deliberately altered or selected for special desirable [[characteristics]] (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultigen cultigen]) and those domesticated [[plants]] that are essentially no [[different]] from their wild counterparts (assuming domestication does not necessarily imply [[physical]] [[modification]]). Likewise, [[animals]] domesticated for [[home]] companionship are usually called pets while those domesticated for [[food]] or [[work]] are called livestock or farm animals.

[[Plants]] domesticated primarily for aesthetic enjoyment in and around the [[home]] are usually called house plants or ornamentals, while those domesticated for large-scale [[food]] production are generally called crops. A distinction can be made between those domesticated [[plants]] that have been deliberately altered or selected for special desirable [[characteristics]] (see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultigen cultigen]) and those domesticated [[plants]] that are essentially no [[different]] from their wild counterparts (assuming domestication does not necessarily imply [[physical]] [[modification]]). Likewise, [[animals]] domesticated for [[home]] companionship are usually called pets while those domesticated for [[food]] or [[work]] are called livestock or farm animals.

==Background==

==Background==

There is [[debate]] within the [[scientific]] [[community]] over how the [[process]] of domestication works. Some [[researchers]] give credit to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection], where [[mutations]] outside of [[human]] [[control]] make some members of a [[species]] more compatible to [[human]] cultivation or companionship. Others have shown that carefully controlled selective breeding is [[responsible]] for many of the [[collective]] changes [[associated]] with domestication. These categories are not mutually exclusive and it is likely that natural selection and selective breeding have both played some role in the [[processes]] of domestication throughout [[history]]. Either way, a process of selection is involved. The domestication of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat wheat] is an example of this. Wild wheat falls to the ground to reseed itself when it is ripe, but domesticated wheat stays on the stem when it is ripe. There is evidence that this critical change came about as a result of a random mutation near the beginning of wheat's cultivation. Wheat with this [[mutation]] was the only wheat [[harvested]] and became the seed for the next crop. This wheat was much more useful to farmers and became the basis for the various strains of domesticated wheat that have since been [[developed]].

There is [[debate]] within the [[scientific]] [[community]] over how the [[process]] of domestication works. Some [[researchers]] give credit to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection], where [[mutations]] outside of [[human]] [[control]] make some members of a [[species]] more compatible to [[human]] cultivation or companionship. Others have shown that carefully controlled selective breeding is [[responsible]] for many of the [[collective]] changes [[associated]] with domestication. These categories are not mutually exclusive and it is likely that natural selection and selective breeding have both played some role in the [[processes]] of domestication throughout [[history]]. Either way, a process of selection is involved. The domestication of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat wheat] is an example of this. Wild wheat falls to the ground to reseed itself when it is ripe, but domesticated wheat stays on the stem when it is ripe. There is evidence that this critical change came about as a result of a random mutation near the beginning of wheat's cultivation. Wheat with this [[mutation]] was the only wheat [[harvested]] and became the seed for the next crop. This wheat was much more useful to farmers and became the basis for the various strains of domesticated wheat that have since been [[developed]].

The example of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat wheat] has led some to speculate that [[mutations]] may have been the basis for other early instances of domestication. It is [[speculated]] that a mutation made some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves wolves] less wary of [[humans]]. This allowed these wolves to start following [[humans]] to scavenge for [[food]] in their garbage dumps. Presumably something like a symbiotic [[relationship]] developed between [[humans]] and this [[population]] of wolves. The wolves benefited from [[human]] [[food]] scraps, and humans may have found that the wolves could warn them of approaching enemies, help with [[hunting]], carry loads, provide warmth, or supplement their [[food]] supply. As this [[relationship]] evolved, [[humans]] [[eventually]] began to raise the wolves and breed the types of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs dogs] that we have today.

The example of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat wheat] has led some to speculate that [[mutations]] may have been the basis for other early instances of domestication. It is [[speculated]] that a mutation made some [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves wolves] less wary of [[humans]]. This allowed these wolves to start following [[humans]] to scavenge for [[food]] in their garbage dumps. Presumably something like a symbiotic [[relationship]] developed between [[humans]] and this [[population]] of wolves. The wolves benefited from [[human]] [[food]] scraps, and humans may have found that the wolves could warn them of approaching enemies, help with [[hunting]], carry loads, provide warmth, or supplement their [[food]] supply. As this [[relationship]] evolved, [[humans]] [[eventually]] began to raise the wolves and breed the types of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs dogs] that we have today.

Some [[researchers]] maintain that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_breeding selective breeding] rather than [[mutation]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection] best explains how the [[process]] of domestication typically worked. Some of the most well-known [[evidence]] in support of selective breeding comes from an [[experiment]] by Russian scientist, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_K._Belyaev Dmitri K. Belyaev], in the 1950s. His team spent many years breeding the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tame_Silver_Fox Silver Fox] (Vulpes vulpes) and selecting only those [[individuals]] that showed the least [[fear]] of [[humans]]. [[Eventually]], Belyaev's team selected only those that showed the most positive [[response]] to [[humans]]. He ended up with a [[population]] of grey-coloured foxes whose [[behavior]] and [[appearance]] was significantly changed. They no longer showed any [[fear]] of [[humans]] and often wagged their tails and licked their [[human]] caretakers to show [[affection]]. More importantly, these foxes had floppy ears, smaller skulls, rolled tails and other traits commonly found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs dogs].

Some [[researchers]] maintain that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_breeding selective breeding] rather than [[mutation]] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection natural selection] best explains how the [[process]] of domestication typically worked. Some of the most well-known [[evidence]] in support of selective breeding comes from an [[experiment]] by Russian scientist, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_K._Belyaev Dmitri K. Belyaev], in the 1950s. His team spent many years breeding the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tame_Silver_Fox Silver Fox] (Vulpes vulpes) and selecting only those [[individuals]] that showed the least [[fear]] of [[humans]]. [[Eventually]], Belyaev's team selected only those that showed the most positive [[response]] to [[humans]]. He ended up with a [[population]] of grey-coloured foxes whose [[behavior]] and [[appearance]] was significantly changed. They no longer showed any [[fear]] of [[humans]] and often wagged their tails and licked their [[human]] caretakers to show [[affection]]. More importantly, these foxes had floppy ears, smaller skulls, rolled tails and other traits commonly found in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs dogs].

Despite the success of this [[experiment]], some [[scientists]] believe that selective breeding cannot always [[achieve]] domestication. They point out that known attempts to domesticate several kinds of wild [[animals]] in this way have failed repeatedly. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra zebra] is one example. Despite the fact that four species of zebra are interbreedable with and part of the same genus as the horse and the donkey, attempts at domestication have failed. The factors which [[influence]] 'domesticatability' of large [[animals]] (see below) are [[discussed]] in some detail in. Surprisingly only 14 [[species]] of large [[animal]] seem to be capable of domestication. In approximate order of their earliest domestication these are: dog, sheep, goat, pig, cow, horse, donkey, water buffalo, llama/alpaca, bactrian camel, and Arabian camel.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication]

Despite the success of this [[experiment]], some [[scientists]] believe that selective breeding cannot always [[achieve]] domestication. They point out that known attempts to domesticate several kinds of wild [[animals]] in this way have failed repeatedly. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra zebra] is one example. Despite the fact that four species of zebra are interbreedable with and part of the same genus as the horse and the donkey, attempts at domestication have failed. The factors which [[influence]] 'domesticatability' of large [[animals]] (see below) are [[discussed]] in some detail in. Surprisingly only 14 [[species]] of large [[animal]] seem to be capable of domestication. In approximate order of their earliest domestication these are: dog, sheep, goat, pig, cow, horse, donkey, water buffalo, llama/alpaca, bactrian camel, and Arabian camel.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication]

[[Category: History]]

[[Category: History]]