Breeding silver foxes

The video explores how animals can become tame through selective breeding, as demonstrated by a Siberian experiment with silver foxes. By breeding the tamest foxes, scientists observed a reduction in aggression and an increase in pet-like behaviors. Conversely, breeding aggressive foxes led to more aggressive offspring. This experiment highlights that both physical and behavioral traits can be inherited, a process known as evolution. Environmental factors also influence behavior, as seen in the evolution of wild horses to riding horses, wildcats to house cats, and wolves to dogs.

What was the primary goal of the Siberian experiment with silver foxes?

• To observe the migration patterns of foxes

• To increase the population of silver foxes

• To study the diet of silver foxes

• To turn wild foxes into domestic pets

What significant change was observed in the foxes after several generations of selective breeding?

• They developed new physical traits

• They became nocturnal

• They became more aggressive

• They started showing affection and wagging their tails

What did the second part of the experiment with aggressive foxes demonstrate?

• Foxes became more social with humans

• Foxes developed new colors

• Aggressive traits increased in the offspring

• Aggressive foxes became tame over time

What does the experiment suggest about the inheritance of behavioral traits?

• Behavioral traits cannot be inherited

• Only physical traits are inherited

• Behavioral traits can be inherited like physical traits

• Environmental factors have no effect on behavior

Which of the following animals is believed to have evolved from wild to domestic forms?

• Bears into pandas

• Lions into tigers

• Eagles into hawks

• Wildcats into house cats