Foxy peek at ‘tame’ gene

A SIX-decade breeding experiment with foxes designed to shed light on how wolves became dogs has led to the discovery of genes that favour tame or aggressive behaviour, scientists said Monday.

Comparing the sequenced genomes of foxes selected across 50 generations for their friendliness towards people with another group bred for hostility uncovered dozens of telltale differences, including one gene in particular.

“SorCS1 does have an effect on behaviour, making foxes more tame,” said lead author Anna Kukekova.