Question: As an investigator, you are studying the changes in structure of plains dwelling, bovine-like mammals based on fossil skeletons found in sedimentary rocks. These images show an artist's rendering of the animals based on reconstructed skeletons. The image on the left shows the animals based on skeletons on the top layers of the rock, on the right is an image of it's ancestor based on fossil skeletons found in deeper strata of the sedimentary rocks. It is apparent that in the deeper sedimentary strata, the length of the horns are longer and their body mass was greater. The more current fossil evidence of the animals shows shorter horns and smaller body mass.
1. Describe the evolution of these animals using an explanation based on inheritance of acquired characteristics.
2. Describe the evolution of these animals using an explanation based on natural selection by descent with modification.