Question

Musk oxen are large animals that live in the coldest parts of the artic and look something like shaggy cows. musk oxen have the warmest wool of any mammal. How would a biologist explain how musk oxen evolved this warm wool, assuming that their ancesotrs had wool that was less warm?

Answer 1

​​​​​​1) Theory of Natural selection;

The Musk oxen have large hais which are not found in their common ancestor. And these hairs are look like shaggy cows. The musk oxen living this condition for many generation. There is found natural selection for the hair trait in the Musk individual. The individual which have Musk hair will survive more because the shaggy hair protect them from cold. Hence they reproduce more. And passes the trait to the offsprings. That's why the Musk oxen develops shaggy hair over generation.

2) convergent evolution:

The Musk oxen and Shaggy cow live in same environmental condition. There is found different ancestory but they merge to a single phenotype for the hair. This is the case of convergent evolution