The Unique Siberian Silver Fox
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:18 pm
A fairly recent article published in the peer-reviewed journal Science spotlights the Siberian silver fox - and just what makes these foxes so friendly. These foxes have some genetic differences that are linked to "tame" behavior around humans. The study may hold some clues in studying the genetics that affect the domestication of dogs.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/08 ... estication(The scientists) identified 103 genetic regions that varied significantly among the three groups. Forty-five of these overlapped with regions linked to domestication in dogs, and 30 had been previously linked to aggressive and tame behaviors in foxes. One gene from this latter set of regions stood out: SorCS1, which helps ferry proteins involved in nervous system signaling and synapse formation, assisting in memory formation and learning.