What Can Foxes Tell Us About Human Behavior?

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

FEATURING:

Anna Kukekova, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

EVENT INFORMATION:

In 1959, a small group of scientists in Siberia began an experiment to evolve dog-type behaviors in foxes. From 130 silver foxes, a bloodline was selected for friendliness toward humans and another bloodline for aggressiveness toward humans. The foxes who liked humans evolved many unforeseen characteristics - they started barking, whimpering, nuzzling like puppy dogs, and a huge range of colors, sizes and shapes appeared. Dr. Kukekova is interested in identifying novel biological mechanisms and gaining a better understanding of well-known mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors may regulate inter-individual differences in social behavior. She is teasing apart nature and nurture to identify genetic mechanisms involved in human behavioral disorders.



LINKS OF INTEREST:

The incredible fox domestication experiment in Novosibirsk, Russia

-From Siberia Part 3: From wild to domesticated in 50 years, the incredible fox farm experiment in Novosibirsk. Experimetns in Wandering.

Guarding the Fox House by Ceiridwen Terrill, Slate Science, 2012.



EVENT DETAILS:

WHERE:

The Tasting Room at Great Lakes Brewing Company

2701 Carroll Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

WHEN:

November 9, 2015

Doors will be open 5:30 - 9:00 PM (Last call at 8:45PM). Presentation and discussion is 7:00 - 8:00 PM. The Tasting Room will also host a limited menu before and during the event. Not to mention beer! (Click here to view menu).

*Please Note* A few of our cafes have approached capacity and/or standing room only. If you want to be 100% sure to get in and get a good seat, you might want to arrive a bit early.

WHO: Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University chapter of Sigma Xi, WCPN ideastream, and Great Lakes Brewing Company

Click here to download a pdf flyer of the event

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