Dialogues: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

The following is my take on this finding, and I believe the principles of evolutionary biology would support the outlook.

In accord with the postulates of biological evolution, there were possibly species (may be fishes or Salamander) below chicken (and birds in general) on the phylogenic tree that could not lay shelled fertilized eggs because they did not possess the Newly discovered Protein in chicken.

As you know, I believe the female fishes lay their eggs in water, and the males just spray the sperms on them; however, when the gene for the Newly discovered protein emerged in some species (chicken et al), chicken could fertilize their eggs inside their body (you've seen he/she chickens running around the yard!) and the shell could quickly form around them before they are laid. The fertilized eggs are protected and the embryos continue to develop outside. So the bio-phylogenetics supports a sequence of events whereby "an unfertilized non-shelled egg acquired a gene (through mutations, gene shuffling or other genetic events) for a protein that leads to production of shelled eggs". Even if the mutation was acquired earlier by a non-shelled egg, it would only have manifested at the chicken stage, a chicken that would have suddenly acquired the ability to shell its eggs inside the body before laying them; when added to the evolutionary acquisition of the ability to fertilize eggs inside the body (i.e., knowledge of he/she chickens running around the yard to mate), you end up with what we have today: a hen lays shelled fertilized egg. The evolutionary trend support the Chicken coming before the egg! Take care. JUI

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of OlaKassimMD@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 2:28 PM
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Still left unanswered by the scientists at Sheffield is the following question:

How was the first chicken--hen or cock created i.e. before the first egg was laid!

In a message dated 14/07/2010 2:16:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, vincentotuonye@msn.com writes:

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

British scientists claim to have solved the scientific, philosophical mystery

David Silverman / Getty Images file

Egg-laying chickens look out of their crowded cages in the Aronheim family farm on October 26, 2005, in Ramot Hashevim, in central Israel.

msnbc.com

updated 7/14/2010 6:17:55 AM ET

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It is an age-old riddle that has perplexed generations: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Now British scientists claim to have finally come up with the definitive answer: The chicken.

The scientific and philosophical mystery was purportedly unraveled by researchers at Sheffield and Warwick universities, according to the Daily Mail newspaper.

The scientists found that a protein found only in a chicken's ovaries is necessary for the formation of the egg, according to the paper Wednesday. The egg can therefore only exist if it has been created inside a chicken.

The protein speeds up the development of the hard shell, which is essential in protecting the delicate yolk and fluids while the chick grows inside the egg, the report said.

"It had long been suspected that the egg came first but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first," said Dr. Colin Freeman, from Sheffield University's Department of Engineering Materials, according to the Mail.

"The protein had been identified before and it was linked to egg formation, but by examining it closely we have been able to see how it controls the process," he said.

Professor John Harding, from the same department, said the discovery could have other uses, according to the Daily Mail.

"Understanding how chickens make egg shells is fascinating in itself but can also give clues towards designing new materials and processes," he said.

"Nature has found innovative solutions that work for all kinds of problems in materials science and technology — we can learn a lot from them."

The discovery was revealed in the paper Structural Control Of Crystal Nuclei By An Eggshell Protein.

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Regards,
Vin (Cool Breeze) Otuonye