What is the taxonomic implication if genomic data confirming a closer link between yaks and bison proves accurate for the genus *Bos*?
Answer
The genus *Bos* as currently defined becomes paraphyletic
If genomic evidence proves that yaks share a closer ancestry with bison than with other members of the genus *Bos*, the current definition of the genus *Bos* would classify it as paraphyletic. A paraphyletic group is one that includes a common ancestral population but excludes some of its descendants. In this scenario, the common ancestor shared between yaks and bison, if placed within *Bos*, means that the bison lineage—which diverged from that common ancestor—is excluded from the definition of *Bos*, thus rendering the genus paraphyletic.
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