Final answer:
Domesticated animals display traits beneficial to humans, developed through selective breeding, such as docility and productivity. The process of domesticating animals and plants has also influenced human evolution, with the adoption of agriculture shaping human behavioral traits like cooperativeness. The domestication of both animals and plants reflects a close relationship between humans and their environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of domesticated versus wild animals are significantly different due to the process of domestication. Animals that have been domesticated have traits that are beneficial to humans, such as docility, a calm temperament, and the ability to thrive in human-made environments. These traits often result from selective breeding, where humans encourage the reproduction of animals with desirable characteristics. For example, the domestication of dogs from wolves involved selecting attributes like loyalty, protective instincts, and hunting capabilities.
Moreover, the theory of human domestication suggests that as humans adopted agriculture, they unconsciously selected and reproduced traits within themselves that were advantageous for this lifestyle. Traits such as reduced aggressiveness and enhanced cooperation emerged, arguably as a response to the demands of an agricultural existence. This provides an intriguing perspective on the interplay between humans, animals, and the environment throughout the domestication process.
Domestication has not only led to changes in animals but in plants as well. Crops such as wheat and sunflowers, which thrive in disturbed habitats, were likely domesticated from species that initially grew in areas affected by human activity. These plants share similar desired characteristics: the ability to germinate readily, grow quickly, and reproduce abundantly, which are vital for their utility in human agriculture.