Is domesticating foxes an example of humans affecting evolution?

Yes, as is any form of selective breeding.

Yes.

Yup. You should see what we’ve done to wild cabbage.

Mmmm… bok choy.

And bananas. And corn. And apples. And oranges.

And viri technically the plural of virus?!

http://feralbigten.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/mustard.png

Nice, Seek! Although…I have a grandson named Kale. He may be interested in that some day!

I blame that damn novelty song. They just wanna know what the fox says.

@Seek_Kolinahr I think brussels sprouts should be in there somewhere as well.

They are @Yetanotheruser. Second from left.

Yes, it’s a small selection. There are a gagillion things that came from wild cabbage.

Here’s a list: http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Brassica-oleracea.htm
Scroll down to “Cabbage Cultivar Groups”

Oh! old eyes, new android!

Yes, it is a form of selection.

I think that there was some selection on the part of humans, even if it wasn’t really intentional. For example, people may be more likely to breed foxes who look more colorful, even if they were not specifically looking for color. This would be the selective pressure.

You are talking about the Russian fox experiment

And Black Angus cattle with necks too short for them to graze so they must be trough-fed, and legs too short and bodies too muscular to get away from natural predators. They are totally dependent on humans as are many other breeds.

Rapeseed (Canola) is on that mustard list as well and it is highly genetically modified by breeding.

@flip86 You know, I do believe I am. “Russia” rings a bell. But I don’t want to watch the video.

Not all domestication is good, but it’s not all bad either.

@Dutchess_III: If you click on the link for the NY Times article, they mention the patterns on the foxes’ coats.