<<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