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The Chicken May Have Come Before the Egg

Posted by samzenpus on from the that-settles-that dept.

Muondecay writes "The age old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, has been tentatively answered. The verdict? The chicken, or rather a key protein needed to form the shell of the egg. The protein, called ovocledidin-17, was known to be involved in binding calcite molecules that formed the shells, but the mechanism behind this was unclear until now. The protein acts as a molecular machine, binding to nanoparticles of calcite and guiding them to begin self-assembly of the shell. This gives tremendous insight for developing methods of nano-scale self-assembly based on natural processes, as well as settling heated cocktail party arguments everywhere."

11 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Okay then. by line-bundle · · Score: 4, Funny

    Which came first, the egg or the eggshell.

    Thank me when this becomes a major philosophical debating point.

    1. Re:Okay then. by Cow+Jones · · Score: 4, Funny

      The whole thing is moot. If we really wanted to know which came first, we'd only have to conduct a relevant experiment. Although this could be one of those experiments where observation can alter the outcome...

      CJ

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    2. Re:Okay then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      It sounds like you're suggesting something like evolution is actually plausible. I believe the correct answer is "whichever one the bible tells you". If it's not in the bible then you shouldn't ask, because if God wanted you to know he would have put it in the bible.

  2. Re:Holy bad link by nacturation · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps the egg shell developed as a result of a cookie setting error? Did chickens really eat cookies back then?

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  3. Re:Me fail logic? That's purple! by cosm · · Score: 2, Funny

    specializing in brining babbys

    Not a typo, they are hard boiled in salt water and cooked to perfection.

    FTFM

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  4. Re:Fossil Record by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

    Okay smartass so what did the dinosaurs eat for christmas lunch?

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  5. Re:Eggasperatingly flawed study. by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 2, Funny

    All chickens come from eggs, the first chicken egg would have been laid by the ancestor to the chicken.

    Don't make me go recursive on your ass!

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  6. Re:Me fail logic? That's purple! by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The bit. This is all a simulation.

  7. Re:The egg came first.. by gillbates · · Score: 4, Funny

    What gave birth to that egg was not 100% chicken.. So Say I.

    Yeah, but I bet still tasted like chicken.

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  8. But it's analog under the bit! by Colin+Smith · · Score: 2, Funny

    Turtles all the way down.

     

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    Deleted
  9. Disproved yesterday by captain_dope_pants · · Score: 2, Funny

    I went to a restaurant for dinner and ordered eggs benedict and coq au vin. The eggs came first.

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