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Scientists say the egg came before the chicken
One of life's greatest mysteries may finally have been solved. Scientists believe they have unlocked the conundrum of the age-old question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. This problem has baffled great minds for centuries. However, researchers from the University of Geneva believe they have cracked this philosophical mystery. They suggest the egg came first. The scientists studied a tiny marine organism called Chromosphaera perkinsii. This single-celled species dates back over a billion years. The researchers found it can form multicellular structures which are similar to animal embryos. This means there was no need for a prehistoric chicken to lay an egg.
Researcher Marine Olivetta told "Nature Journal" that Chromosphaera perkinskii was first discovered in 2017 off the coast of Hawaii. She said it has offered many insights into ancient life forms. She said: "It's fascinating that a species discovered so recently allows us to go back in time a billion years." The researcher suggested that the genetics behind egg fertilization and embryonic development were present before animal life existed. This means nature could have created eggs long before evolution "invented chickens". A more straightforward answer to the chicken and egg problem is that chickens came into existence 10,000 years ago, whereas eggs have existed for millions of years.
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Chat
Talk about these words from the article.
life / mystery / conundrum / age-old questions / chicken /
egg / philosophical /species coast / insights / ancient life /
genetics / embryonic development / animal / evolution
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Discussion
1) What did you think when you read the headline?
2) What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'chicken'?
3) What are the arguments for the chicken coming first?
4) What other great mysteries are there in life?
5) What do you think of chickens?
6) What do you think of eggs?
7) Do you think the chicken or the egg came first?
8) What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
9) What was animal life like in prehistory?
10) Would you like to see a prehistoric chicken?
