Work on selective breeding in ___________ over a period of 40 years shows that behavioral characteristics can be selectively bred so that the descendants behave more like a different species than like their own ancestors.
A) ants
B) foxes
C) horses
D) rabbits

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement refers to the famous experiment on selective breeding of foxes in Russia, which started in the 1950s and is still ongoing. The experiment aims to produce a more domesticated version of the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes), similar to a dog, by selecting for traits such as tameness, reduced aggression, and friendliness towards humans. The results have shown that after 40 or more generations of selective breeding, the foxes display not only physical changes (e.g. floppy ears, curly tails) but also behavioral ones, such as whining, tail-wagging, and seeking attention from humans. The offspring also show less fear and more curiosity towards novel objects than unselected foxes. In other words, the selectively bred foxes behave more like domestic dogs than their wild ancestor, even though they are still the same species.

Work on Selective Breeding in ___________ Over a Period of 40