The experiment, started in 1952, continues to this day covering nearly 60 generations of silver foxes selected for "tameness.

[2][3] She coordinated educational activities at the experimental fox farm at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Her thesis was titled: "On correlation of behavior characteristics with reproductive function in fur bearing animals of the Canidae family."

In 1981, she was awarded a Doctor of Sciences degree from the same institution, writing her thesis on the behavior of domesticated silver foxes.

Many of the descendant foxes became both tamer and more dog-like in morphology, including displaying mottled or spotted fur.