SELECTION VECTOR AND ONTOGENIC DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIOR UNDER DOMESTICATION OF WILD NORWAY RATS

Hereditary variation in rates of ontogenetic formation of exploratory behavior, glucocorticoid functions, and neurotransmitter systems in wi ld Norway rats during selection for absence of defensive response towa rds humans (domestication) is demonstrated. Interrelated shifts in the development of behavior and neurohormonal systems are shown. A compar ison of the data obtained with the results of domestication of another species-silver fox-suggests that equally vectorized selection of anim als belonging to different taxa produces equally directed changes of t heir regulatory systems.