What came First? The Chicken or the Egg? (Philosopher's Corner #1)
As a classic philosophical phenomenon that has vexed theorists and perplexed humanity since the years of 46 AD, the widely known debate over whether the chicken or the egg came first has been heavily analyzed and construed by many.
For centuries, and possibly even millennia, people have been questioning the reasoning and rationale behind the origins of how living-beings came to be on our earth. It is said and documented that in 3000 BC, Aristotle himself pondered deeply on the question of whether the chicken came before the egg and vice-versa- it is believed that this brilliant scientist and philosopher was extremely puzzled by the issue.
This confusion was the cause of a lack of biological evolution awareness and information, due to the absence of advanced science at the time. Thus, at current day, with the forward access and innovative modern scientific expertise that is available, it is vital to observe the idea of evolution when considering this particular query.
The most basic precedent and illustration of biological evolution is that of the human being. It is important to note that evolution is a hereditary gradual development in a biological population over the course of consecutive generations- resulting in genetic and physical change. As a subject that most people learn throughout their elementary years of school, we know that the entire human species has progressed and adapted over the course of millions of years- from apes, to Neanderthals, to Homosapiens, eventually becoming the thriving living-brings that we are today.
Knowing this information, and the evident possibility of living mutation among us species, many scientists argue that this is exactly what happened with the chicken.
First and foremost, there is credible scientific evidence that eggs (meaning an oval or round object, usually containing a developing embryo) have existed before the chicken. In fact, eggs have played a role on this earth before any bird-like creature had evolved. This research is supported through the study of dinosaurs, in which had also laid eggs long in advance of the presence and reality of what we know as a bird today.
Therefore, it is scientifically theorized that bird-like animals in the past laid eggs in which contained descendants with cell mutations- producing what we call the chicken in modern day. To put things into further perspective and elaboration, during the process of biological reproduction, two organisms provide their genetic information in the form of DNA to their offspring. This genetic information is replicated for the child, though it may not be 100% identical or accurate- creating quite minor differences in biological material. After the course of many years, these small mutations have the power to influence an entire species, resulting in living creatures that have noticeable differences in physical appearance.
It is suggested that chicken-like birds reproduced the very first chicken as a result of genetic mutation in the species’ natural evolution. Essentially, this very first chicken initiated and commenced the adaptation and popularity of the kind, and continued to produce eggs, containing chicken embryos. Logically thinking, this very first chicken came from an egg. Thus -answering the widely renown and mind-boggling question- the egg is what came first.