Wild ancestors
Wild ancestors are the original species from which domesticated plants and animals are derived.
Wild ancestors have gone through behavioural and/or genetic changes to achieve biological mutualism with humans. This was thought to be due to humans selectively breeding those species, although it may also happen between non-human species. Common example include dogs which have been derived from wolves and maize which is derived from Zea diploperennis.
Theory
All living creatures are derived from a common wild ancestor. With time and the help of humans or nature living beings has adapted to its surroundings by gradual changes whether it is visible or not. According to Darwin, there are two different categories that may cause wild ancestors to change to its modern or domesticated counterpart; natural selection and artificial selection. Natural selection as the name suggests, were environmentally driven, this occurs when more advantageous traits were passed down ensuring survival of the fittest. Whereas, artificial selection is done by humans intentionally breeding creatures to attain desirable traits. Both of these allows the wild ancestors to evolve.Direct ancestors of two different species may overlap. A term for this is "concestor" —coined by Nicky Warren— from the book The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins.
Generally, wild ancestors have a similar genetic code to its descendant, although different or additional gene mutations are found on its modern counterparts.
Wild Ancestors in Animals
Most animals are tuned to modern life by artificial selection. This is either due to the pressure of early hunter-gatherers attempt to stabilise food source, which resulted in the existence of domesticated farm animals, or domestication of pets which are useful to humans. Different animal species undergo different pathways of domestication although it almost always resulted in one common trait which is tolerance of proximity to humans or lack of fear for humans and increased reproductivity.An example of the wild ancestor of an animal bred for food source is in chickens. The ancestor of the domesticated chicken, the red jungle fowl, are believed to have an origin in parts of South and Southeast Asia. Around 8,000 years ago humans started to breed this species for food. a study has shown that the act of domestication for the chickens caused the gene mutation involving a gene known as TSHR, which was found only in domestic populations. This implied that this gene in particular may have some involvement in domestication of bird species.
The domestication of the wolf is a different process altogether as it is a result of two interwoven processes which happened during the nomadic period of hunter-gatherer in humans. The process started by less fearful wolves scavenging in human settlements, and the humans utilising their presence as alarms which may warn humans of invaders whether it be humans or predatory animals approaching at night. Afterwards, the process of self-domestication of the wolves start to happen. Wolves with friendly traits has a higher chance of survival as conflicts with humans are lessened. As friendlier wolves bred together for generations, it gradually evolved to the modern domestic dog. in this case of domestication the phases of natural and artificial selection were blended together.
in other cases, animals just adapt to its ecology, and since the environment continuously differ, it continually adapt and change as well. It may also migrate and branch off and evolve into a new species.
Wild Ancestors in plants
Wild ancestors in plants are direct origin of certain plants. Thousands of years ago, humans started to settle and grow crops. This change in human behaviour from nomadic to sedentary marked the start of the domestication process of plants. Creating high-yielding and adaptable plant varieties. A lot of crop plants were also moved into human-managed conditions which caused the selection pressures to differ from the plants in its normal environment creating a significant difference in trait, life cycle and appearances compared to its original predecessor.Many significant changes could be seen in modern cultivated watermelons which are believed to have derived from Citrullus colocynthis after being domesticated for water and food source in the northeastern Africa over 4000 years ago. Citrullus colonchythis, which now still exists as a crop wild relative known as desert gourds or thorny apples, were small, bitter in taste and yellow or green in the inside, while modern watermelons are mainly large, red or yellow in color and sweet tasting. The same goes for other common crops cultivated nowadays, most of them has evolved to be suited to human palate.
Many wild ancestors of plants still coexist with the modern domesticated crops, these plants may be called Crop Wild Relative.
Wild ancestors and their domesticated counterparts.
Differences
Compared to its wild ancestors the domesticated counterparts of living creatures underwent several changes depending on various factors and pathways of evolution.Physical appearance
Domestic animals show differences in physical appearance in comparison to its wild ancestors as it underwent some changes such as having floppier ears, bigger skulls, curlier tail and changes in coat colour or pattern, as noted in domestications of dogs and the experimental domesticated red fox in Russia by Dmitry Belyayev. Changes in physical appearance which is caused by selective breeding can be seen in pets such as koi fish and betta fishes which is bred for aesthetic purpose or dogs bred for extreme physical appearances. Extreme physical appearances in selectively bred animals may cause health problems, which may cause wild ancestors to have longer natural lifespans.Behavioral
Behavioral differences in wild ancestors were caused by differences in brain structures compared to its domesticated counterparts. An example of this can be seen when comparing wild and domestic rabbits. Wild rabbits have a larger ratio of brain-to-body size, while domestic rabbits have a smaller amygdala and larger medial prefrontal cortex and also reduced white matter. This causes domestic rabbits to have a decreased fight and flight response and thus domesticated rabbits show less indication of fear towards humans. Subsequently, a decrease in awareness of its surrounding may be observed in domesticated animals because of the reduced needs of sensing natural predators.Generally a change in mating systems may be observed in its domesticated counterparts. Seasonal mating systems tend to only exist on wild ancestors, however most domesticated animals have a tendency to breed all year long. The deterioration of monogamous systems may also be seen along with wider mating preferences. These traits may be more commonly seen in domesticated farm animals or pets as it is beneficial to humans.
Intelligence
As living creatures adapt and evolve, the levels of intelligence changes to suit its living. The level of intelligence of modern humans are considerably higher compared to the hominid ancestors from millions of years ago. Among which during this time the volume of the hominid brain began to gradually increase starting from about 600 cm3 in Homo habilis up to 1500 cm3 in Homo neanderthalensis. Although the evolution of humans increases the level intelligence, the same may not be observed in other animals, especially animals which has great dependence to humans. an example for this is seen in dogs. While different breeds of modern dogs possess different brain capacity and intelligence, in general, compared to the wolf, the dogs problem solving capabilities has declined. In a problem solving experiment, the average success rate for dogs are 5% while the wolves obtained an 80% success rate. On the other hand, in a test on guinea pigs, it was shown that the spatial ability of domestic guiniea pigs are higher compared to its ancestor. Level of intelligence of wild ancestors compared to its predecessor differs from species to species as brain volume and behaviour changes.Genetical
The presence of genetic mutations increases genetic variance across species groups, mutations which are found to be beneficial for the longevity of the species as a whole are likely to be inherited to the next generation, due to this process genetic difference has become the driving factor of most, if not all of the changes in wild ancestors compared to its predecessor. As wild ancestor species evolves there are certain genes which would indicate its evolutionary path. Creatures which would undergo domestication has changes in genes which alter its endocrine system and hormonal production which could be seen in animals such domesticated birds, canids, cattle and house pets. This could be seen in the mutation of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene in domesticated chicken, which affects the reproduction system. In the domestic fox experiment, the gene SorCS1 was found in tame foxes but not in aggressive foxes, this gene is thought to be responsible for the tameness trait in domestic foxes.Differences in plants
Plants that are bred for crops or food production are selectively bred for increased effectivity, and relatively better taste. Hence, the differences in wild ancestors and cultivated modern crops will reflect that, for example, an increased size of the edible parts of certain fruits.Domestication syndrome in plants causes differences such as larger sizes, changes in colour and differences in sugar content. Adaptability of modern plants might also be increased compared to its wild ancestor.
Cultivated plants shows differences in chemical content compared to its wild counterparts. For example, research has shown that cultivated plants generally produce litters which decomposes faster and are easier to be recycled compared to wild plants. Wild plants, which had to generally thrive in nutrient poor soils promotes a higher content of recalcitrant molecules, such as lignin. This stimulates an increase in plant litter toughness, causing it to decompose longer.
other differences may include :
- loss of seed dormancy
- new adaptations to ecological factors such as nutrient composition in the soil, temperature, acidity, light levels, humidity, etc.)
- difference in method of reproduction or even sterility in modern plants.
- differences in chemical composition
- loss of seed dispersal methods
- a decrease in defensive mechanisms. Since traits such as thorns, spines, protective coverings and poison are less desirable to humans. it is lost to artificial selection. This renders modern plants more susceptible to pests.
- difference in disease susceptibility.
Uses
List of wild ancestors and modern counterparts
| Species and subspecies | Wild ancestor |
| Dog | Extinct Pleistocene population of Gray wolf |
| Cattle | Extinct Aurochs |
| Domestic guinea pig | Montane guinea pig or cavy |
| Chicken | Red junglefowl |
| Domesticated rabbit | European Rabbit |
| Goat | Bezoar ibex |
| Ferret | European polecat |
| Modern Banana | Musa acuminata or Musa balbisiana |
| Squash | Cucurbita okeechobeensis |
| Watermelon | Desert gourd |
| Eggplant | Thorn apple |
| Apricot | Prunus brigantina |
| Cassava | Manihot walkerae |