domesticerade

Domesticerade, or domesticated, refers to organisms that have undergone domestication—a long-term process driven by human selection of traits that favor interaction with people. Through artificial selection over many generations, these species accumulate genetic changes that distinguish them from their wild ancestors and become increasingly dependent on humans for reproduction, food, and survival.

Domestication involves changes in behavior, morphology, physiology, and life history. Domesticated populations often show reduced aggression toward humans, greater sociability, and traits desirable for agriculture or companionship. Genetic changes accumulate as humans preferentially breed individuals with favorable characteristics. Domestication is distinct from taming (individual animals acclimating to humans) and from captive breeding without a shift in wild-type genetics.

Examples of domesticates include animals such as dogs, cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens, which were gradually adapted from wild relatives to human-controlled environments. Plant domesticates include wheat, barley, maize, rice, potatoes, and other crops that emerged from wild progenitors through selective cultivation and harvesting practices.

The process is often described as a co-evolutionary one, where human societies and their domesticates influence each other’s development. Domesticated populations generally rely on humans for reproduction and survival, differ from feral populations that revert to wild conditions, and contrast with wild species that have not undergone human-driven selection. In contemporary contexts, domesticerade is a foundational concept in archaeology, genetics, and agricultural science, informing discussions about biodiversity, food security, and animal welfare.