Genes and pathways selected during animal domestication. Genes and pathways selected during animal domestication

The domestication of a small number of animal species was essential for the emergence of complex human societies. Despite decades of interest, the biological changes underlying the domestication process remain poorly understood. We generated whole-genome sequences from “domesticated” Norway rats and American mink, and identified genes and putatively functional variants that may underlie the phenotypic differences seen in the domesticated animals. When we combine these data with whole-genome sequences from seven pairs of domestic animals and their wild sister species we find six biological pathways that were recurrently affected by the domestication process in all nine domesticated animal species. One of these is the ErbB signaling pathway, involved in the development of the reproductive system and neural crest migration.