What is domestication?

The nature of domestication is often misunderstood. Most definitions of the process are anthropocentric and center on human intentionality, which minimizes the role of unconscious selection and also excludes non-human domesticators. An overarching, biologically grounded definition of domestication is discussed, which emphasizes its core nature as a coevolutionary process that arises from a specialized mutualism, in which one species controls the fitness of another in order to gain resources and/or services. This inclusive definition encompasses both human-associated domestication of crop plants and livestock as well as other non-human domesticators, such as insects. It also calls into question the idea that humans are themselves domesticated, given that evolution of human traits did not arise through the control of fitness by another species.

Automated summary

The nature of domestication is a coevolutionary process that arises from a specialized mutualism, in which one species controls the fitness of another to gain resources and/or services. The current definitions of domestication are anthropocentric and overlook the role of unconscious selection, calling for a more inclusive definition that encompasses non-human domesticators and other forms of domestication.