Re: Re: MN (resp. to J. Witters)

RDehaan237 (RDehaan237@aol.com)
Wed, 1 Apr 1998 06:55:38 EST

In a message dated 3/31/98 3:32:29 PM, sschaff@SLAC.Stanford.EDU (Steve
Schaffner) wrote:

<<I was under the impression that all organisms were specific. What is
a general, inclusive organism?>>

Steve,

thanks for your questions. I consider the Cambrian animal _Pikaia_ to be a
general, inclusive organism because it is a chordate, as Gould states, the
first recorded member of our phylum (later related animals of earlier vintage
have been found in China). Pikaia possesses the body plan of all subsequent
chordates--a notochord and striated musculature.

All the Cambrian animals that were the progenitors of today's phyla I would
consider general, inclusive organisms.

Respectfully,

bob