Domestication

Domestication

Domestication can be defined as the art of technology and science in adapting plants or animals into an association that is intimate with and advantageous to human beings (Darwin, 1868). In other words, it is the hereditary reformation of wild plants and animals into cultivated and domestic form in regard to people’s interest. The difference between wild plants and animals from the domesticated ones is that; domesticated plants and animals are tuned to meet specific whims or requirements by human labor. They are also adapted to continuous care and maintenance by people. Consequences of domestication are immense. This is clearly seen by the difference between breeds of plants and animals in domestication and those in the wild.

Morphological difference between domesticated and wild plants and animals

Morphology is defined as shape, size, and structure of organisms or a part of the organism. The first morphological difference between domesticated and wild plants and animals is the change in their seasonal biology. Wild plants and animals have a characteristic of strict seasonal molting and reproduction (Darwin, 1868). On the contrary, many of the domesticated animals and plants have a capability of producing themselves at any season during the year. In addition, domesticated plants and animals molt little, or they do not molt at all.

Domestication dependent changes are also brought about by genetic means that draw recessive genes from wild genotypes of natural organisms (Darwin, 1868). Domestication interferes with natural mutation processes of wild plants and animals. This artificial selection is remarkably different from natural selection and results into a breakdown of a stabilized system in domesticated plants and animals. Different kinds of breeds are brought about as a result of artificial selection. Consequently, domesticated plants and animals cannot survive in nature as compared to wild plants and animals due to the creation of new gene combination by artificial selection (Darwin, 1868).

Another morphological difference is a decrease in brain size of domesticated animals in comparison to larger brain size of wild animals (Darwin, 1868). Domesticated animals have less acute sense organs than wild animals, which have more acute sense organs. The reduced brain size and less acute sense organs are because they do not need to be alert for survival tactics used in the wild. In domesticated environment, they are considered as a waste of energy.  

Behavioral differences between domesticated and wild plants and animals

A significant difference in feeding habit is found between domesticated and wild animals. Tactics on how to acquire food by domestic animals has profoundly subdued. They do not go hunting for their own meals, but they are fed by human beings. Domesticated animals have no selection skills for what they eat. Another behavioral difference is in intra-specific communication between wild and domesticated animals. This is contributed by the learning process and genetic factors. In captivity or domestication, the intra-specific communication is significantly reduced (Hediger, 1964). This is because individuals in a species under domestication do not have a lot of information to communicate to one another. The animals prioritize their relationship in humans rather than other animals.

Domesticated animals tend to show reduced overall activities, defensive mechanisms, flight, and warning behaviors (Hediger, 1964). Wild animals show high defensive mechanisms, flight and warning behaviors. This is because these characteristics are needed for survival in the wild, whereas, under domestication, they are rendered more or less useless. Artificial selection also contributes in a way to this issue. Domesticated animals are less aggressive than wild animals. This is highly valued by humans so that they can handle the animals in an easier way.

Lastly, sexual maturity for domesticated animals is at an earlier age in comparison to wild animals. Sexual activities, on the other hand, have significantly increased among animals in captivity (Hediger, 1964). This is attributed to approximate key stimuli. On the other hand, plants exhibit minimal behavioral changes under domestication (Bazzaz, & Grace, 1997).