Our creepiest genetic invention: the dog
Posted by Chris Young on 06.20.06
We didn’t pick just any wolves for this project. We picked the ones that could help us and get along with us. Dogs are dumber than monkeys and other mammals in many ways, but they excel at one thing: interpreting human behavior. Three years ago, scientists tested this talent in wolves, adult dogs, puppies raised in households, and puppies raised in kennels. The wolves couldn’t read humans well, but the puppies could—even the puppies raised in kennels. Through selection, we’ve hardwired human compatibility into dogs. We’ve made a species in our image.
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