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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ @L.Dutch - equations? In biology? "What if" question about peculiar mutations and selective breeding has to have equations? Good luck with that. $\endgroup$
    – D'Monlord
    Commented Feb 16 at 8:56
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    $\begingroup$ read the entire sentence, without stopping at the coma: equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. $\endgroup$
    – L.Dutch ♦
    Commented Feb 16 at 9:26
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    $\begingroup$ Here just throw these in, structural coloration, selective breeding, all he wants is to change the physical shape of individual hair filaments making up wool, presuming his magic microscopes are strong enough to be able to see what they're doing it self evidently can be done in far less than the allotted time, we've made more significant changes to pigeons and other animals in far less. $\endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    Commented Feb 16 at 9:54
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    $\begingroup$ You might also note that the Golden Mole is noted as having structurally coloured fur in that wikipedia link on structural colour, as evidence that it's definitely possible to have in the fur, hair and wool of mammals. $\endgroup$
    – Pelinore
    Commented Feb 16 at 10:34
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    $\begingroup$ Many ducks (including the familiar mallards) have structural coloration in a brightly coloured patch on their wing (the speculum) — and they live happily in muddy ponds and streams. So some structural coloration can tolerate plenty of water and dirt, and at least a bit of mechanical force. $\endgroup$
    – Peter LeFanu Lumsdaine
    Commented Feb 16 at 17:23