The Chicken or the Egg?

What came first - the chicken or the egg?

Its a question we’ve pondered for ages.  Many consider it unanswerable due to its cyclical nature.   Well consider yourself lucky, as I am now going to share with you one of the secrets of the universe. Ready?

The egg came before the chicken.  

There is a very logical explanation for this - Evolution. Let me explain. For those of you who paid attention in science class or watch discovery channel, you probably already knew this but just never put two and two together. Let me connect the dots. 

  

To answer this riddle all one has to do is look at the evolutionary development of both eggs and birds.

Animals use eggs to reproduce - worms, fish, birds, humans (woman release eggs each month as I’m sure you’re well aware) - its a very long list of diverse creatures. Eggs have been around for a long long long time because animals use eggs to sexually reproduce.  Its one of natures greatest inventions. 

The riddle of the chicken and the egg can now be easily determined by simply looking up when chickens (birds in general) appeared on the evolutionary time scale. 

Here is a very simplified version of animal evolution (in chronological order naturally):

worms - insects - fish - amphibians - reptiles - birds - mammals

By the time birds showed up, eggs were already being used by many other animals for millions of years. Thus, the egg came before the chicken.  This is a wonderful example of how science can be useful in your life. Tell your children so they can show up their science teacher.  You’ll be a hit at parties. 

I’m still working on the Caramilk secret.  When I figure it out I’ll let you know.