Wild or Domesticated?

What is the difference?  

Domestication is the process by which species are genetically modified over time through their interaction with people.  Animals that coexist with humans are bred for traits that are most desirable or useful to those humans. When certain traits are selected for and manipulated by people, over time the genetic makeup of the species evolves into something different from its wild ancestors. These new genetics often leave the animals unfit for their natural environment because traits favored by people are not the same as those favored by nature. This creates a dependence on humans for survival.  This is different from tamed animals because taming does not change a species’ genetic structure, it only trains specific animals to adapt to human control. 

Wild animals are  those living in their natural state, uninfluenced by human control.

Here are some examples:

Dogs and Wolves:

• Dogs go into heat twice a year, while wolves only go into heat once a year.
• Wolves have the ability to bite into bone very quickly, whereas a dog has lost this ability.
• Wolves are carnivores and could not survive on dog food.
• Wolves live in packs and cannot live alone, like some dogs do.
• Wolf cubs are born black no matter what color they will end up as an adult.
• Unlike dogs, wolves rarely bark.
• Wolves hide from danger, while a dog's instinct is to protect.
• Usually, dogs mark their territory in one spot while wolves tend to mark anywhere.  They sometimes mark on females and sometimes with feces.
• Anybody can own a dog but in some states it is illegal to own a wolf.  Where it is legal, one must construct a special fence to obtain the necessary permit.

 

Wild and Domesticated Turkeys:

• Since they are bred to grow quickly and look pretty, domestic turkey strains no longer have the survival skills to make it in the wild.
• There is selective pressure on genes related to growth and coat color in domesticated turkeys, resulting in their inability to fly (larger bodies) and run fast (shorter legs).
• Domesticated turkeys are almost twice the size of wild turkeys.
• Wild turkeys display more heterozygosity than commercial turkeys, meaning they have greater genetic variation.
• Wild turkeys have traits that help them survive in the wild like sleek, tall bodies, long legs and great eyesight.
• Wild turkeys make less noise than Domesticated turkeys, most likely because noise attracts predators in the wild. 

Through thousands of years of human manipulation, commercial turkeys have become very different from their wild counterparts and ancestors, the Mexican Wild Turkey. Since turkeys are bred for food, humans have selected for traits like large body size-generation after generation. Though good for food, this trait leaves the new, significantly larger-bodied turkey population unable to survive in the wild and completely dependent on humans. Wild turkeys, on the other hand, have traits selected for their survival by nature. These genetic changes are an example of evolution because over time, domesticated and wild turkeys have had different parties selecting for their traits. Domesticated turkeys and wild turkeys have significantly different genetic makeups because they require different traits to survive and reproduce in their respective environments.