Domestication of animals and plants

Question 1

Roughly when was the first domestication event and what animal was it?

Answer 1

15,000 years ago

Dogs

Question 2

When did most domestication events occur?

Answer 2

7,000-10,000 years ago

Question 3

When did domestication spread into Europe and where did it come from?

Answer 3

Spread from the Middle East to Europe during the Neolithic when farmers migrated north west in the Neolithic transition

Question 4

What are the two species of domestic cattle?

Answer 4

Taurine (Eurasian subspecies)

Indicine/ Zebu (Indian subspecies

Question 5

Define domestication.

Answer 5

The process of converting a wild species to one that lives and reproduces under human control

Question 6

Define domesticates.

Answer 6

Species that survive and reproduce under human control.

Question 7

Define feral domesticates.

Answer 7

Domesticates that have successfully returned to the wild.

Question 8

What are the 5 main changes that occur during animal domestication?

Answer 8

1. Changes in body size and morphology
2. Changes in the digestive system and skin/hair
3. Changes in fat deposits
4. Changes in physiology
5. Changes in behaviour

Question 9

Describe how body size and morphology changes during animal domestication.

Answer 9

Reduction in size relative to the ancestor

With eventual development of miniature and giant breeds, with much variation in general

Question 10

What are some general changes in body morphology that happen in animal domestication?

Answer 10

Reduction or loss of secondary sexual characteristics
Reduction in the length of the snout with possible overlap and/ or loss of teeth
Atrophy of the sense organs
Changing proportions of various body parts
Redistribution of muscle mass
Retention of juvenile characteristics in adult animals
Increase in mammary glands for excessive milk production

Question 11

Describe how fat deposits change in animal domestication.

Answer 11

Increased fat deposits in the tail with increased intramuscular and subcutaneous fat deposits

Question 12

Describe the changes in physiology that occur during animal domestication.

Answer 12

Increased tolerance to physiological and psychological stress
Reduction in size of the adrenal, pituitary, hypothalamus and brain neocortex
Changes in growth rate
Accelerated sexual maturation
Increased frequency of reproduction and number of offspring

Question 13

Describe how behaviour changes when animals get domesticated.

Answer 13

Disappearance or decrease in intensity of patterns of behaviour, especially in relation to the care of the litter
Reduced escape response and faint alarm ruction in presence of danger
Increased sedentary lifestyle or constant activity through day
Simplification of social structure
Increased frequency of sexual activity

Question 14

Why does breeding occur?

Answer 14

Selection for characteristics desired by man

Question 15

Why do farmers buy pedigree breeds?

Answer 15

Economically valuable for farmers as other farmers will pay more for a pedigree breed to inseminate their cattle with

Question 16

What animal is believed to be the wild ancestor of alpacas?

Answer 16

Vicuña

Question 17

What animal is believed to be the wild ancestor of llamas?

Answer 17

Guanaco

Question 18

When and where did llamas and alpacas get domesticated?

Answer 18

Around 6,000-7,000 years ago on the wet puna (mountainous grasslands and shrublands)

Question 19

What has been selected for in domesticating alpacas and llamas and why?

Answer 19

Modern day versions have been selected for longer hair by humans because this can be used as a material

Question 20

Give an example of a wild plant that has been selectively bred to produce a wild variety of distinct cultivars and what these cultivars are.

Answer 20

Wild cabbage has been bred to produce a wild variety of distinct cultivars like kale, brussel sprouts, kohlrabi, broccoli and savoy cabbage

Question 21

What did Robert Bakewell do in regards to selective breeding and domestication?

Answer 21

One of the first true agricultural scientists
Founder of controlled mating where males and females are kept separate
Selecting for desirable traits
Created the Dishley Leicester breed of sheep by selecting for larger size, fleece quality and shoulder mutton quality
This breed didn’t last because it was too fatty

Question 22

What is the negative of Robert Bakewell’s work?

Answer 22

Dishley Leicester didn’t last as a breed because it was too fatty
Has been argued his pioneering and aggressive use of breeding may have led to the spread of diseases like scrapie

Question 23

What wild animals do dogs descend from?

Answer 23

Wolves

Question 24

How many wolf lineages do dogs descend from and what does this mean for their genetic variation?

Answer 24

At least 5 wolf lineages

So they have high genetic variation

Question 25

Define atrophy.

Answer 25

Body tissue or organ wasting away, particularly due to underuse or neglect

Question 26

Define intramuscular.

Answer 26

Situated or taking place within, or administered into, muscle

Question 27

Define subcutaneous.

Answer 27

Situated or applied under the skin