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Two donkeys interacting at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark
Science Snapshot: Pin the Domestication on the Donkey
A genomic analysis reveals that humans domesticated donkeys more than 7,000 years ago.
Science Snapshot: Pin the Domestication on the Donkey
Science Snapshot: Pin the Domestication on the Donkey

A genomic analysis reveals that humans domesticated donkeys more than 7,000 years ago.

A genomic analysis reveals that humans domesticated donkeys more than 7,000 years ago.

domestication

A black dog with tearful eyes looks at the camera
Dogs Cry Tears of Joy: Study
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Aug 22, 2022 | 6 min read
Pet dogs produce a larger volume of tears when they are reunited with their owners than with acquaintances, possibly because of surging oxytocin levels—findings that could be the first evidence of emotional crying in nonhuman animals.
A rooster crowing in a tree
Domesticated Chickens Were Initially Friends, Not Food
Amanda Heidt | Jun 7, 2022 | 4 min read
Analyses of bones found across the world suggest that the birds entered human settlements more recently than previously thought. But they don’t seem to have immediately made their way to the table, raising questions as to why people started keeping them.
zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Caught on Camera
The Scientist | May 16, 2022 | 2 min read
See some of the coolest images recently featured by The Scientist
Humans Domesticated Yeast Through Bread-Making: Study
Max Kozlov | Dec 11, 2020 | 4 min read
Over centuries of cultivating Saccharomyces cerevisiae to make dough, bakers have put selective pressure on the species, causing it to diverge into two distinct groups, according to the authors.
DNA Evidence Shows Ancient Humans and Dogs Migrated Together
Lisa Winter | Oct 31, 2020 | 3 min read
The study is the first to show a genomic relationship between dogs and humans on the move.
Image of the Day: Tomato Domestication
Amy Schleunes | Mar 30, 2020 | 1 min read
Scientists identify a transcription factor that plays a key role in increased fruit size.
Ancient Wheat Genome Reveals Clues to the Agricultural Past
Jef Akst | Mar 1, 2020 | 5 min read
A museum sample of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian crop plant yields genomic information that helps researchers track the plant’s domestication and migration.
wolf pup
Image of the Day: Wolves Playing Fetch
Amy Schleunes | Jan 17, 2020 | 2 min read
A new study shows wolf pups responding to vocal encouragement from humans.
Famous Fox Domestication Experiment Challenged
Emily Makowski | Dec 4, 2019 | 2 min read
The tamed foxes, whose appearances changed with breeding, weren’t wild to begin with, say the authors of a new study.
dog eyebrow sad face puppy dog look compared to wolf muscle stronger thicker domestication
Domestication Might Have Sculpted Eyebrow Expressions in Dogs
Chia-Yi Hou | Jun 18, 2019 | 2 min read
Dogs have stronger facial muscles compared to wolves, giving them the sad or “puppy dog eyes” look.
Ancient Teeth Tell the History of Equine Dentistry
Sukanya Charuchandra | Oct 1, 2018 | 3 min read
Researchers studied 3,000-year-old skeletal remains from Mongolia to understand the origins of veterinary dental practices.
Original North American Dogs Descended From Siberian Populations
Catherine Offord | Jul 5, 2018 | 2 min read
European settlers likely wiped out these ancient dogs, but the animals seem to have left a lasting legacy in a transmissible canine cancer.
Image of the Day: Jasper the Cat
The Scientist Staff | May 22, 2018 | 1 min read
Researchers found a previously undiscovered hepadnavirus in an immunocompromised cat.
Dogs’ Friendly Demeanor Written in Their DNA
Bob Grant | Jul 20, 2017 | 2 min read
Researchers pinpoint the genes that make pooches so dang affable.
Dogs Have a Single Genetic Origin: Study
Diana Kwon | Jul 18, 2017 | 2 min read
A new genetic analysis contradicts a 2016 study proposing that our canine companions were domesticated from two distinct populations.
Genes Linked to Dogs’ Sociability with People
Jef Akst | Sep 30, 2016 | 2 min read
Genetic variants on chromosome 26 appears to play a role in a dog’s tendency to turn to people for help.
The Evolution of Beer Yeast
Ben Andrew Henry | Sep 11, 2016 | 2 min read
Sequencing more than 150 yeast genomes, scientists describe distinct lineages cultivated by humans for making beer and wine.
Dog Domestication History Clarified
Bob Grant | Jun 3, 2016 | 2 min read
A study suggests that wolves were transformed into man’s best friend more than once, in Asia and in Europe or the Near East.
Domestication’s Downsides for Dogs
Ashley P. Taylor | Dec 21, 2015 | 3 min read
The selection of traits suitable for human companionship may have dragged along some unfavorable alleles.
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