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Topic: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread) (Read 1061 times) |
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Lise Carlstrom
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virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« on: 2004-05-10 21:33:37 » |
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Youthful attributes are always selected for in the
process of domestication (breeding a species for
tameness), because animals that retain youthful mental
characteristics remain pliable and can be trained. In
the process of selecting for youthful mental
characteristics, we also drag in youthful physical
characteristics--for instance, in canines, along with
tameness, we get spots, floppy ears, and barking, all
puppy/cub attributes. And when we domesticate
ourselves, by selectively breeding with socialized
(tame) individuals? We end up with us...
house apes.
Below is an excerpt from
http://www.ratbehavior.org/CoatColor.htm, describing
some highly relevant breeding research that was done
with foxes.
--Eva
Belyaev's silver foxes: The most famous example of
white pigmentation and docility are Belyaev's silver
foxes (Belyaev and Trut 1975, Belyaev 1978, Trut
1999). Belyaev brought wild silver foxes into
captivity and bred them specifically for tame
behavior. Experimenters tested the animals'
temperaments by reaching into the cages of young foxes
and trying to touch them, stroke them, and give them
food. Foxes were also placed in a large enclosure with
human. The most docile foxes were retained for
breeding, foxes that reacted with more fear and
aggression were not bred.
The experiment lasted for over forty years and tested
more than ten thousand foxes. The results were
striking. Through this process of breeding exclusively
for tameness, Belyaev obtained foxes that eagerly
approached humans and licked their hands and faces.
They even tried to attract human attention by whining
and wagging their tails.
But these behavioral differences weren't the only
changes that Belyaev obtained in his tame foxes. These
foxes also differed morphologically and
physiologically from their wild counterparts. The tame
foxes had floppy ears, curly tails, and domed skulls.
The females went into heat twice a year (like domestic
dogs) instead of once a year (like wild foxes). And
instead of having a solid silvery black coat, many had
white patches of fur. The percentage of foxes with
white patches went up from 0.71% to 12.4% of the
population, an increase of 1646% over forty years
(Trut 1999).
By selecting for tamability, Belyaev selected for
physiological changes in the systems that govern the
body's hormones and neurochemicals. Those changes had
far-reaching effects on the animals' behavior and
development, and ultimately on their morphology and
physiology.
__________________________________
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Blunderov
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"We think in generalities, we live in details"
 
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RE: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« Reply #1 on: 2004-05-11 02:02:54 » |
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[Blunderov] Thanks Eva; this was fascinating. I have read that the
psychology behind pets is that they are regarded by their owners as
surrogate children. It all seems to fit.
Best Regards
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-virus@lucifer.com [mailto:owner-virus@lucifer.com] On Behalf Of
Eva-Lise Carlstrom
Sent: 11 May 2004 03:34 AM
To: virus@lucifer.com; ivo@haunted.seanet.com
Subject: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
Youthful attributes are always selected for in the
process of domestication (breeding a species for
tameness), because animals that retain youthful mental
characteristics remain pliable and can be trained. In
the process of selecting for youthful mental
characteristics, we also drag in youthful physical
characteristics--for instance, in canines, along with
tameness, we get spots, floppy ears, and barking, all
puppy/cub attributes. And when we domesticate
ourselves, by selectively breeding with socialized
(tame) individuals? We end up with us...
house apes.
Below is an excerpt from
http://www.ratbehavior.org/CoatColor.htm, describing
some highly relevant breeding research that was done
with foxes.
--Eva
Belyaev's silver foxes: The most famous example of
white pigmentation and docility are Belyaev's silver
foxes (Belyaev and Trut 1975, Belyaev 1978, Trut
1999). Belyaev brought wild silver foxes into
captivity and bred them specifically for tame
behavior. Experimenters tested the animals'
temperaments by reaching into the cages of young foxes
and trying to touch them, stroke them, and give them
food. Foxes were also placed in a large enclosure with
human. The most docile foxes were retained for
breeding, foxes that reacted with more fear and
aggression were not bred.
The experiment lasted for over forty years and tested
more than ten thousand foxes. The results were
striking. Through this process of breeding exclusively
for tameness, Belyaev obtained foxes that eagerly
approached humans and licked their hands and faces.
They even tried to attract human attention by whining
and wagging their tails.
But these behavioral differences weren't the only
changes that Belyaev obtained in his tame foxes. These
foxes also differed morphologically and
physiologically from their wild counterparts. The tame
foxes had floppy ears, curly tails, and domed skulls.
The females went into heat twice a year (like domestic
dogs) instead of once a year (like wild foxes). And
instead of having a solid silvery black coat, many had
white patches of fur. The percentage of foxes with
white patches went up from 0.71% to 12.4% of the
population, an increase of 1646% over forty years
(Trut 1999).
By selecting for tamability, Belyaev selected for
physiological changes in the systems that govern the
body's hormones and neurochemicals. Those changes had
far-reaching effects on the animals' behavior and
development, and ultimately on their morphology and
physiology.
__________________________________
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simul
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I am a lama.
 
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Re: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« Reply #2 on: 2004-05-11 11:56:33 » |
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Pets that take on the role of surrogate child can get fiercely jealous when young children are introduced that compete for resources and attention.
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First, read Bruce Sterling's "Distraction", and then read http://electionmethods.org.
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Lise Carlstrom
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Re: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« Reply #3 on: 2004-05-11 17:12:35 » |
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Beverly Cleary (author of the Ramona books) has
written a
charming little novel about this, called _Socks_.
It's about a cat and his family, to which a baby is
added. I recently read it aloud for the second time.
--- Erik Aronesty <erik@zoneedit.com> wrote:
> Pets that take on the role of surrogate child can
> get fiercely jealous when young children are
> introduced that compete for resources and attention.
__________________________________
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Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs
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DrSebby
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...Oh, you smell of lambs!
    
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Re: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« Reply #4 on: 2004-05-11 18:50:20 » |
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...this is very true Erik. this is why many families, amidst great
ceremony, sanction a fight to the death between children on their 6th
birthday and the family pet who wishes to represent all family pets.
Sincerely;
DrSebby. (the blood and mangy white curls of poochie's body still on my
hands)
"Courage...and shuffle the cards".
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Erik Aronesty" <erik@zoneedit.com>
Reply-To: virus@lucifer.com
To: "Church of Virus" <virus@lucifer.com>
Subject: Re: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 11:56:33 -0400
Pets that take on the role of surrogate child can get fiercely jealous when
young children are introduced that compete for resources and attention.
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"courage and shuffle the cards..."
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simul
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Re: virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« Reply #5 on: 2004-05-12 08:39:50 » |
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It's why some animal shelters won't allow you to adopt a small dog if you're pregnant.
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First, read Bruce Sterling's "Distraction", and then read http://electionmethods.org.
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Mermaid
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Bite me!
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Re:virus: Neoteny (response to Transhumanism thread)
« Reply #6 on: 2004-05-14 07:43:52 » |
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i dont understand why people want to have children when they can have pets...and pets live for ..max..MAX...10-15 years....ok..so you got to pick up their poop till they croak....still..
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