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Behaviour effects outward appearance

 Selective Breeding Experiment on Rat AggressionYes, your description matches a well-known scientific experiment in behavioral genetics: a selective breeding study on gray rats (Rattus norvegicus) started in 1959 by Soviet biologist Dmitri Belyaev at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk. Belyaev, famous for his parallel fox domestication project, extended the approach to rats to explore how quickly genetic changes could produce tameness or aggression from wild stock. After his death in 1985, the work was continued by Irina Plyusnina and her team at Moscow State University.Key Details of the ExperimentStarting Population: Wild gray rats were captured in Siberia (near Novosibirsk) to create a genetically diverse founding group, mimicking natural variability.

Breeding Method: Docile ("Tame") Line: Bred from the most non-aggressive individuals—those that showed low biting, approached humans willingly, and exhibited pet-like behaviors (e.g., seeking physical contact, reduced fear responses).

Violent ("Aggressive") Line: Bred from the most ferocious individuals—those that bit handlers aggressively, avoided contact, and displayed heightened territoriality or fear-induced violence.

Selection was based on behavioral tests: Pups were exposed to humans at weaning, scored for aggression (e.g., attack frequency), and the top/bottom 10-20% were paired for breeding each generation.

Timeline and Generations: The lines diverged dramatically in just 60-70 generations (about 10-15 years, given rats' short breeding cycles). This rapid change highlights the heritability of aggression and tameness.

Outcomes:Tame Rats: Became highly sociable, with floppy ears, curly tails, lighter coats, and juvenile-like playfulness (similar to domesticated foxes). They groom humans, wag tails, and show reduced stress hormones (e.g., lower cortisol).

Aggressive Rats: More skittish, bite-prone, with darker fur and stronger flight-or-fight responses. They remain wary of humans and exhibit wild-like territorial behaviors.

Scientific Insights: The study demonstrated that domestication traits (tameness) are polygenic and linked to neural crest development (affecting adrenaline and serotonin pathways). It parallels human-animal domestication and informs research on anxiety disorders, ADHD, and selective breeding ethics.

This work has been replicated and extended, with strains now used in labs worldwide for studying genetics of behavior. Some tame rats even show epigenetic changes passed to offspring, amplifying the effects.Is This Enough Information to Find?Absolutely—your query (mice/rats, breeding violent wild vs. docile pet-like) is spot-on for targeted searches. Terms like "rat selective breeding aggression tameness" or "Belyaev rat experiment" pull it up immediately in scientific databases (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar). It's less famous than the fox study but well-documented in behavioral ecology. If you meant a different experiment (e.g., John B. Calhoun's mouse "Universe 25" on overpopulation aggression, or something mouse-specific), share more details for a deeper dive!

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