What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?
Journey with us on "I Wonder" as we unravel this classic conundrum of what came first, the chicken or the egg. We've cracked the mystery wide open, revealing that the answer is as scientific as it is philosophical. You’ll discover the twists and turns of almost-chickens and learn how a tiny DNA tweak in an egg gave birth to the very first true chicken. This story goes beyond just chickens and eggs—it's a billion-year-old saga that binds us all.
Episode Transcript
Hey there, curious minds, welcome to another episode of "I Wonder, the show where we explore the questions you've been wondering about. Today's question comes from Dylan, who asked "what came first, the chicken or the egg?’ This is one of those questions people have been asking for thousands of years and it might seem like there's no clear answer, but guess what? Scientists and philosophers have actually studied this and they think they've solved it.
Let's crack open this mystery together. You might have heard arguments for both sides. Some people say the chicken had to come first, because you need a chicken to lay an egg. Others argue that the egg must come first, because chickens hatch from eggs. It's a tricky question, but science gives us a fascinating answer. To figure this out, scientists say we need to think about evolution.
A long, long time ago, millions of years before chickens existed, there were birds that were almost chickens, but not quite. These birds laid eggs too, but their eggs were a little different from what we see today. Over time, tiny changes happened in the DNA of these birds, like nature slowly tweaking the recipe. Eventually, one of these almost-chickens laid an egg that contained a mutation, a genetic change, and when that egg hatched, the very first true chicken emerged. This means that the egg came first. The chicken that hatched from it was different enough from its parents to be called the first official chicken.
This idea is based on research shared by Professor John Brookfield, a scientist from Nottingham University. He explained that the first chicken would have started as an embryo inside an egg, which means the egg had to exist before the chicken. Another scientist, Professor David Papineau, added that the egg was laid by a bird that wasn't quite a chicken. So the egg really does win this debate. Here's where things get even more interesting. Scientists have discovered that eggs as a way of reproducing have been around for over a billion years, long before chickens, dinosaurs, fish and even ancient single-celled organisms used eggs to create the next generation. This means that the egg isn't just older than the chicken, it's older than most of the animals we know today.
But what makes eggs so special? Eggs are one of nature's most successful inventions. They protect the growing embryo, provide nutrients and allow animals to reproduce in all kinds of environments. For example, jellyfish eggs float freely in the ocean, while turtle eggs are tough and leathery to keep predators out. Even chicken eggs are marvels of engineering. The hard shell is made of calcium carbonate, which keeps them safe inside while letting enough air through tiny pores. Speaking of chickens, did you know that they're descended from dinosaurs? Some scientists believe that the T- rex is a relative of the chicken. It's amazing to think that a bird scratching around in the dirt is connected to one of history's fiercest predators.
Chickens are also the most common bird on Earth, with over 25 billion of them living around the world. That's more chickens than humans by a long shot. Their eggs aren't just white or brown, depending on the breed. Some are naturally blue, green or even speckled. But wait, there's more.
Chickens aren't just fascinating creatures. They're also a big business. The global poultry industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars each year, with chicken meat and eggs being some of the most widely consumed foods in the world. Farmers produce millions of eggs daily to meet demand, and chicken is a staple in cuisines, from fried chicken in the United States to chicken curry in India. So while they might seem like humble backyard birds, chickens play a huge role in feeding the world and driving the economy.
So does this finally settle the debate. I t seems pretty clear, the egg came first. It wasn't necessarily a chicken egg, but it was an egg that eventually led to the first true chicken. And if we zoom out even further, eggs, as a way of reproducing, existed long before chickens ever appeared. This question might seem simple at first, but it's really a great way to learn about evolution, nature and how the tiniest changes can lead to something amazing.
Thanks again to Dylan for such a fun and thought-provoking question. And remember, if you have a question you're curious about, submit it on our website at iwonderpodcast. com and we might just feature it in our next episode of "I Wonder. Until next time, stay curious and keep wondering.