Domestic Syndrome Essay

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Domestic syndrome is the term used to describe the shared characteristics that domestic animals tend to share. The general combination of traits in domesticated mammals is referred to as the “domestication syndrome.” The term “domestic syndrome” was proposed by Charles Darwin, more than 140 years ago, when he observed that domesticated animals possess a different heritable traits not seen in their wild counterparts. For example, domesticated dogs vary a lot in appearance compared to wild canines such as like wolves and coyotes. Domesticated dogs are more likely to have rounder faces, smaller jaws, floppier ears, and patchy fur compared to wild canines. Mammals are the animals affected by the domestic syndrome. Domesticated birds and fishes …show more content…

The neural crest arises from the embryonic ectoderm germ layer and gives rise to most of the peripheral nervous system. The cells from the neural crest migrate to different locations within the embryo and differentiate into many cell types. Neural crest cells can differentiate into melanocytes, smooth muscle, craniofacial cartilage and bone, cartilage, connective tissue, and peripheral and enteric neurons and glia. In regards to the origin of the neural crest cells, they emerge from the dorsal neural tube during early development. The interaction between the ectoderm and the neural plate which prompt the neural plate border, initiating the development of the neural crest. The border regions which gives rise to the neural folds, eventually converge to form the dorsal midline of the neural tube from which neural crest cells emerge from. The traits which the neural crest affects and are also traits shared by domesticated animals include depigmentation, floppy ears, reduced ears, shorter muzzles, smaller teeth, increase docility, smaller brain or cranial capacity, more frequent estrous cycles, prolonged juvenile behavior, and curly tails. Other traits include changes in hormone levels and changes in concentration of several

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