NEET Botany Question (2026) — Solution

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The fundamental characteristics of chordates include the presence of a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, paired pharyngeal gill slits, and a post-anal tail. The presence of pharyngeal gill slits is a defining feature of chordates at some stage of their life cycle. Therefore, the absence of gills is not a characteristic of chordates. Answer: Absence of gills