Radiolab 'New Nice' By Dmitri Belyav
RadioLab “New Nice”
This episode analyzed the domestication of animals. It details an experiment performed by a Russian Darwinian geneticist named Dmitri Belyaev. Belyayev wanted to understand how domestication occurs. It seems like a simple question but the results were very interesting. He used silver foxes for his experiment. He had one control group and one experimental group. With the experimental group he controlled which ones were able to breed. The ones that were able to breed did not show fear of humans and were not aggressive. He continued to breed these foxes over and over again. Within 10 years he had successfully domesticated these foxes. Throughout the process of domestication, Belyaev noticed some physical changes that were …show more content…
So if you are breeding foxes with stunted adrenal glands you are likely breeding them to have other areas stunted. Ears flop over because the cells in them have not fully formed. Teeth are smaller because they do not receive as many cells. These changes can also be observed in humans. As compared to 35,000 years ago, our skulls and teeth are smaller. We live in communities now rather than a nomadic lifestyle. We are essentially domesticated versions of our ancestors. This just serves as a reminder that we too are animals. Generally we are more civilized and less aggressive but with what’s happening in the Middle East, and the domestic terror attacks in our country, it is obvious that we are not completely free of violence and aggression. With Belyaev, when a fox was aggressive he shot and killed it. In a way, we take that course of action with the death penalty It’s a nice thought that we could potentially breed out our bad qualities but it is ultimately not that simple. Because of our imperfections, the attitude that we can selectively breed could lead to discrimination and ethnic cleansing. The best way to “domesticate” ourselves is to educate ourselves and others and to practice tolerance. Also, to prosecute violent criminals and lock them
This episode analyzed the domestication of animals. It details an experiment performed by a Russian Darwinian geneticist named Dmitri Belyaev. Belyayev wanted to understand how domestication occurs. It seems like a simple question but the results were very interesting. He used silver foxes for his experiment. He had one control group and one experimental group. With the experimental group he controlled which ones were able to breed. The ones that were able to breed did not show fear of humans and were not aggressive. He continued to breed these foxes over and over again. Within 10 years he had successfully domesticated these foxes. Throughout the process of domestication, Belyaev noticed some physical changes that were …show more content…
So if you are breeding foxes with stunted adrenal glands you are likely breeding them to have other areas stunted. Ears flop over because the cells in them have not fully formed. Teeth are smaller because they do not receive as many cells. These changes can also be observed in humans. As compared to 35,000 years ago, our skulls and teeth are smaller. We live in communities now rather than a nomadic lifestyle. We are essentially domesticated versions of our ancestors. This just serves as a reminder that we too are animals. Generally we are more civilized and less aggressive but with what’s happening in the Middle East, and the domestic terror attacks in our country, it is obvious that we are not completely free of violence and aggression. With Belyaev, when a fox was aggressive he shot and killed it. In a way, we take that course of action with the death penalty It’s a nice thought that we could potentially breed out our bad qualities but it is ultimately not that simple. Because of our imperfections, the attitude that we can selectively breed could lead to discrimination and ethnic cleansing. The best way to “domesticate” ourselves is to educate ourselves and others and to practice tolerance. Also, to prosecute violent criminals and lock them