How did scientists create "domestic" animals?

Question

For instance, rats,guinea pigs,mice,hamsters..

They were all wild once, but now people keep them as pets. How did scientists create domestic versions anyway? Did they take their DNA or something?

Answer 1

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rats, pigs, mice and hamsters are not much different from their wild counter parts, except that they are usually exposed to human handling early on in their life, and colouration may differ due to selctive show breeding. there are some extremes like hairless rats that have been selectively bred (originally for scientists to more easily administer tests) that obviously are not found in the wild but there are still wild rats, mice, pigs and yes, hamsters too. Guinea pigs are the only animal that you listed that cannot be found naturally in the wild, but they are a domesticated descendant of the "Cavia aperea" The Cavia were bred for specific characteristics and colourations to acheive the little guinea pig we have today. The same way a dog is selectively bred to elliminate unfavourable qualities and health problems. I have had so called "pet rats" that were not properly socialized (by the petstore) and they were very feral and quite terrified to be around people. There's probably a few feral cats and dogs that live in the closest city to you as they were not raised by people. It usually only takes one generation to revert back to a wild state, sometimes less.

how the selective breeding works? I'm not an expert on genetics, but trying to remember back to grade 11 bio, if you have a male and a female with blue eyes the baby has a very good chance of having blue eyes... if the mom has brown eyes and the dad has blue eyes, I think eye colour is more dominant on the mom's side so the baby would have a higher chance of having brown eyes... UNLESS the grandparents on both sides all had blue eyes too. something like that.. i hope some else can explain it better. lol

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Asker's Comment:

thnx

Answer 2

In 1995 they developed a technique in which they drew out the DNA of a wild animal and dyed some of the chromosomes a lighter shade. This makes the animal gentler, friendlier and more obedient. The popularity of these new-fandangled "domestic" animals has increased dramatically over the last ten years as the technology to perform this procedure has become much cheaper and more widely available.

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Seriously????

Answer 3

Scientists didn't create a domesticated version. Animals were so close to humans that they became used to seeing them and human antics. Dogs, cats, birds, and every other pet, were once wild animals. They became used to people being around them hundreds (or even thousands) of years ago, and people began using them for jobs that needed done or just to have as company. Throughout time, animals have just become used to people and people have become dependent on animals.

Answer 4

Scientists did not create them. Through people's involvement in these animals lives early on, such as them taking them in as pets (as with dogs and cats), they have become domestic and have lost many of their wild habits.

Good luck! =]