Taming the Wild
Novosibirsk, Russia
Photo: Vincent J. MusiThis brown rat’s angry display at the photographer reflects 73 generations of breeding for hostility to humans. Scientists at Novosibirsk and in Germany are comparing the aggressive rat genome to that of rats selected for friendliness, attempting to untangle connections between DNA and behavior.
“It looks like a prison cell with a bunch of mad prisoners, ready to lash out at each other, which is basically what these rats are doing. And the whole frame, the way it moves from not just the aggressive rat but to how the other rats are reacting to him, is a moment that is absolutely unforgettable.”
—Chris Johns, Editor in ChiefThey’re breeding super-aggressive rats. What could possibly go wrong?
The National Geographic article that goes with this picture is incredible! Ever since I heard about the decades-long tame/aggressive fox experiment on Nova: Dogs Decoded, I’ve been semi-obsessed with the idea of having a pet fox (even though Applejack already resembles a fox enough that I should be satisfied).
How could anyone not get a heartmelt from this; come on…
