What is the mnemonic used to remember the four shared chordate traits?

What is the mnemonic used to remember the four shared chordate traits?

• A. Do Not Pinch People
• B. Do Not Pinch Pigs
• C. Do Not Pinch Puppies
• D. Do Not Ping People

Answer: (A)

Think of the four features that define chordates at some point in their development: a dorsal nerve cord, a notochord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. The phrase “Do Not Pinch People” is a handy guide to remember them: Do stands for Dorsal nerve cord, Not for Notochord, Pinch for Pharyngeal slits, and People for Post-anal tail. This mnemonic helps you quickly recall all four traits together, which is useful when you’re studying how chordates are defined. Remember that in many chordates these traits appear at some stage even if they aren’t all obvious in adult forms—for example, the notochord can be replaced by a vertebral column in vertebrates, while the other features may appear in embryonic stages.

Think of the four features that define chordates at some point in their development: a dorsal nerve cord, a notochord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. The phrase “Do Not Pinch People” is a handy guide to remember them: Do stands for Dorsal nerve cord, Not for Notochord, Pinch for Pharyngeal slits, and People for Post-anal tail. This mnemonic helps you quickly recall all four traits together, which is useful when you’re studying how chordates are defined. Remember that in many chordates these traits appear at some stage even if they aren’t all obvious in adult forms—for example, the notochord can be replaced by a vertebral column in vertebrates, while the other features may appear in embryonic stages.