Kukekova, Anna - Domestication as a special form of evolution offers valuable insights into how genomic variation contributes to complex differences in behavioral and morphologocal phenotypes. The genetics-centered view of the domestication is supported by experimental selection of farm-based foxes (Vulpes vulpes).that begun at the Russian Institute of Cytology and Genetics in the 1950s. Selection of foxes for either tame or aggressive behavior, has yeilded two strains with markedly different, genetically determined behavioral phenotypes. Tame-strain foxes communicate with humans in a possitive manner and are egar to establish human contact. Foxes from the aggressive strain are aggressive to humans and difficult to handle. Althought the foxes were selected solely for behavior, changes in physiology, morphology, and apperance with significant parallels to characteristics of the domestic dog, were observed in tame-strain foxes. These two fox strains provide a rich resource for investigating the genetics of complex social behaviors. Although the focus of our work is on the genetics of domestication in the silver fox, there is a borader context. in Particular, one expectation of the silver fox research is that it will be synergistic with studies in other species, including humans, to yield a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and evolution of a wider range of social interactive behaviors.