On the origin of domesticity: A test of Keeler’s “black-gene” hypothesis

Hughes, Carroll W.; Pottinger, Hardy J.; Safron, Joe

doi:10.3758/bf03333743

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The results of the present study are in basic agreement with those of previous investigations. Differences between agouti and black rats in ease of handling support the findings of Keeler (1942) and the lack of significant differences in open-field ambulation and defecation are in agreement with Broadhurst (1958, 1960) and Hughes et al (1981).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…The results of the handling test stand apart from the results of the open-field test, the platform-jumping test, and the response to a novel food item. In addition to open-field behavior, Hughes et al (1981) obtained negative results in comparisons involving activity-wheel performance and measures of water consumption. All of these tests measure responses to inanimate stimuli rather than to interactive, animate stimuli.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Broadhurst's earlier study (1958) and Keeler's investigation (1942), matings were such that allelic segregation could occur at all three loci, thus confounding the effects of the agouti locus. Hughes et al (1981) compared wild agouti and black rats trapped in a single landfill but could provide no assurance that they shared a common genetic background. Despite this weakness in earlier investigations, it is noteworthy that the conclusions reached with respect to ease of handling and open-field behavior have been consistent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Keeler(1942) hypothesized that black rats are more docile or tame than their agouti counterparts. More recent studies (Broadhurst, 1958;Hughes, Pottinger, & Safron, 1981) have not supported this hypothesis; however, the behavioral tests administered (open-field ambulation and defecation) may not have adequately measured docility as it is typically viewed in the context of domestication. In addition, the results of these studies may be questioned by failure to obtain animals that segregated for the agouti and nonagouti alleles on a common genetic background.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of the nonagouti pelage-color allele on the behavior of captive wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Cottle

Price²

1987

Journal of Comparative Psychology

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The objective of the present study was to determine the extent to which the nonagouti pelagecolor allele influences selected behaviors (including docility) of the wild Norway rat. Agouti and nonagouti (black) littermates were compared in tests for handling, open-field behavior, platform jumping, and response to a novel food item, all of which clearly differentiate wild and domestic rats. Nonagouti rats were significantly easier to approach, capture, and handle than their agouti sibs. However, differences between agouti and nonagouti rats for the other variables studied were not significant. Although the presence of the nonagouti allele cannot fully account for the behavioral differences between wild and domestic Norway rats, it may have facilitated the domestication of this species by improving ease of handling.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%