Scientists from the University of Bristol have found the answer to the eternal question: which came first, the egg or the chicken?
This information was reported by T4, URA-Inform reports.
In evolutionary terms, eggs were laid by the distant ancestors of chicken dinosaurs millions of years before the first chickens appeared.
But a new research project has now found that the earliest ancestors reptiles that evolved millions of years before dinosaurs may not have laid eggs as previously thought. Their research indicates that the chicken came first.
According to Professor Michael Benton, the ancient ancestors of modern birds and reptiles first gave birth to live young, and only then moved on to laying eggs. This hypothesis casts doubt on the traditional «reptile egg» model.
Experts say that while the hard-shelled egg has often been viewed as one of the greatest innovations in evolution, this research suggests long-term preservation of the embryo & #8212; when the mother holds her young for varying periods of time. Thus, this gave this particular group of animals maximum protection.
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