How Humans Domesticated Just About Everything | Compilation
SciShow・32 minutes read
Domestication has led to the creation of various foods, pets, and modes of transportation, with examples like domesticated apples showcasing genetic diversity and benefits. Humans have inadvertently domesticated themselves through evolution, leading to changes like the ability to digest milk and potential future modifications due to societal shifts and genetic engineering.
Insights
- Domestication has significantly impacted the diversity and availability of foods and pets, with examples like wild cabbage evolving into various greens and over 200 dog breeds being bred, highlighting the human influence on shaping species.
- Genetic diversity plays a crucial role in the evolution and preservation of cultivated species like apples, as seen through the emergence of new apple varieties from chance seedlings and the importance of maintaining genetic variability to combat pests and climate changes, emphasizing the necessity of preserving diversity for future agricultural sustainability.
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Recent questions
How has domestication impacted food production?
Domestication has significantly influenced food production by shaping various fruits and vegetables found in supermarkets today. Through human breeding, wild plants like cabbage have been transformed into different cultivars such as broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts, all belonging to the same species. This process has led to the creation of diverse food options that cater to different tastes and preferences, showcasing the impact of domestication on the availability and variety of foods for consumption.
What genetic changes have occurred in domesticated apples?
Domesticated apples have undergone genetic changes that have preserved genetic diversity and desirable traits. Through modern cultivation methods like cloning and grafting, apple varieties have maintained their unique characteristics while adapting to different environments. The genetic diversity in apples has facilitated the creation of new varieties with improved flavor, resistance to pests and diseases, and enhanced transportability, highlighting the importance of genetic variation in apple cultivation.
How have domestic cats evolved through domestication?
Domestic cats have evolved through domestication, leading to genetic changes that affect their behavior and adaptability to human environments. Genetic studies have revealed the close relation of domestic cats to the Wildcat Felis Sylvester's, with evidence pointing to domestication in regions like Cyprus and ancient China. These genetic fingerprints indicate the impact of domestication on cats, making them more friendly and adaptable to living alongside humans, showcasing the evolutionary changes brought about by human interaction.
Why are zebras not suitable for riding?
Zebras are not suitable for riding due to various factors such as their smaller size compared to domestic horses, weaker backs, thick necks that make it challenging to direct them with reins, and their ill-tempered nature. These characteristics have led to failed attempts at domesticating zebras during the Victorian era, highlighting the unsuitability of zebras for riding purposes despite their physical similarities to horses.
How has human evolution been influenced by domestication?
Human evolution has been inadvertently influenced by domestication, with examples like the ability of 35% of adults to digest milk evolving over 7,000 years. This showcases ongoing human evolution and potential future changes, such as shorter, slightly heavier women and smaller brains possibly due to societal changes. The decrease in human brain size over the last 20,000 years may be attributed to the emergence of complex societies and increased efficiency rather than a decline in intelligence, with potential future evolution driven by genetic engineering to eliminate disorders and modify traits like height or intelligence. This highlights the complex interplay between human evolution, domestication, and genetic changes over time.
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Summary
00:00
"Domestication: Evolution of Food, Pets, Transportation"
- Domestication has led to the creation of various foods, pets, and modes of transportation.
- Wild cabbage has been domesticated into different greens like broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts, all belonging to the same species.
- Dogs have been bred into over 200 different breeds, showcasing significant diversity.
- Most fruits and vegetables in supermarkets have been shaped by human breeding.
- Brassica oleracea, known as the "dog of the Plant World," includes kale, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, all variations of the same species.
- Wild cabbage underwent genomic events, resulting in significant genetic variation, leading to diverse cultivars.
- Genetic research has shown that nearly 20% of genes in Brassica oleracea cultivars are unique to specific varieties.
- Wild cabbage was domesticated around 2000 BCE, with various cultivars emerging over time.
- Apples have a self-incompatibility system, preventing self-fertilization and requiring cross-pollination for fruit production.
- Domesticated apples have maintained genetic diversity, with modern cultivation methods preserving desirable traits through cloning and grafting.
14:15
Apple Genetic Diversity and Domestic Cat Origins
- Different Apple varieties were kept apart in European Orchards, but in North America, some went wild and cross-pollinated, leading to new chance seedling trees like Red Delicious and Golden Delicious.
- Macintosh and Apple varieties, popular today, also originated as chance seedlings in 1811, showcasing the benefits of genetic diversity in creating new apple varieties.
- Genetic diversity in apples aids in creating new varieties with improved flavor, resistance to pests and diseases, adaptability to different climates, and enhanced transportability.
- A gene for disease resistance in apples transitioned from Wild to domestic apples in the 1970s, highlighting the importance of genetic diversity in combating pests and climate changes.
- Efforts are ongoing to preserve Apple diversity, crucial as 90% of U.S apples in 2008 were from just 15 varieties, emphasizing the need for continued genetic diversity for future apple varieties.
- Cloud computing technology, like that from Akamai's lenode, enables various online activities, with plans to expand server access by 2023 for enhanced cloud technology utilization.
- Domestic cats' origins trace back to ancient times, with evidence suggesting domestication older than previously thought, possibly originating from Cyprus around 9,500 years ago.
- Genetic studies reveal domestic cats' close relation to the Wildcat Felis Sylvester's, with evidence pointing to domestication in different regions like Cyprus and ancient China.
- Domestication of cats led to genetic changes affecting behavior, making them more friendly and adaptable to human environments, with genetic fingerprints indicating domestication.
- Dogs, domesticated for various reasons, including their ability to digest starch efficiently, exhibit genetic changes from wolves, such as tameness traits and adaptations for human coexistence.
27:00
"Human and Animal Evolution: Past and Future"
- Zebras are not suitable for riding due to their smaller size compared to domestic horses, weaker backs, thick necks making it hard to direct them with reins, and ill-tempered nature, leading to failed attempts at domestication during the Victorian era.
- Humans have inadvertently domesticated themselves through evolution, with examples like the ability of 35% of adults to digest milk evolving over 7,000 years, showing ongoing human evolution and potential future changes such as shorter, slightly heavier women and smaller brains possibly due to societal changes.
- The decrease in human brain size over the last 20,000 years may be attributed to the emergence of complex societies and increased efficiency rather than a decline in intelligence, with potential future evolution driven by genetic engineering to eliminate disorders and modify traits like height or intelligence.
- While natural selection and genetic engineering may shape the future of human evolution, the history of domestication extends to plants, animals, and even humans, showcasing the varied ways in which species have been influenced by human interaction.
