Are eggs living things?

Question

Human eggs, chicken eggs, etc...

Answer 1

In short, yes. Now for the explanation...

The term "egg" is used to refer to 2 different things:
1) An unfertilized egg is technically an ovum (plural ova) and it is a single cell; a very special cell, because it only has half of the normal number of chromosomes. It is a gamete, and it's one of the elements in sexual reproduction. The ovum needs to combine with a sperm cell (another gamete) to produce an embryo. Normally ova cannot survive on their own, except in some species where females are parthenogenetic (= able to reproduce without males); in these cases, the ovum can divide and produce an embryo.

2) On the other hand, a fertilized egg only spends a very short time as a single cell (zygote). It quickly starts to divide and the new cells form an embryo. The eggs laid by reptiles and birds (and egg-laying mammals) contain embryos (except in special cases like domestic hens).

So eggs are living things, but they require specific conditions to be able to survive. An ovum needs to be fertilized to start developing, and fertilized eggs also need specific temperature, humidity, etc. to survive and develop into a new individual.

Answer 2

Chicken eggs that we eat should not be considered "alive" in the sense of concern of this posting. The term "alive" is too vague. A better term is "viable." All food was once alive, including plants. Potatoes sitting on a table are alive - just watch them produce tubers as they attempt to reproduce. Food contains minerals (atoms & molecules that are not alive) but also more importantly contains energy that got into it by biologic (living) processes. So most of the above answers are incorrect. An egg still inside the chicken or other female that can be fertilized is still viable ("alive"). The egg outside the chicken in its calcium shell is no more "alive" than a potato. Again, the potato is actually "more alive" for the reason I mentioned. The chicken egg (in its shell, outside the chicken) will do nothing except decompose. That s why it must be kept refrigerated. I m a doctor, not an egg farmer... but readers should know that eggs are great food whose consumption doesn t hurt anyone (or any chicken) and we are fortunate to have them. Maybe just don t eat too many of the yolks (cholesterol).

Answer 3

They're living things, but they're not individuals.
Same as any random cell of skin from your body is a living thing, but is not an individual, and would die without support.

Eggs are biologically live things, but will die without becoming fertilized a short time after they are formed. Once fertilized, they need nourishment and support to grow, *possibly* becoming a full-grown individual of the species that created them. For chicken (and other bird) eggs, the nourishment comes from the nutrients packed in the egg with the embryo. For humans, the nourishment comes from the mother's body via the placenta. Neither is an individual until it's formed enough to survive without that full-time nourishment it needs in embryonic form.

Answer 4

Yes, all eggs are living things. Divisions and growth are taking place. Sperm and ovum are living things, and they are what unite to create an egg which would then also be a living thing. If it grows and needs nourishment to survive, it is living.

Answer 5

its depends, is the egg fertilized - yes
because it can go in to reproduce itself.
If not then the egg is not a live in the true sense of the word.

Answer 6

The answer is YES. Even though they arn't moving and breathing the cells are still alive and so is the bacteria. Even if they arn't fertilized.

Answer 7

Yes, they are as much living as any other organism.

Answer 8

Yes....absolutly!

Answer 9

i never really thought about it before, but yes. i dont think i will ever eat eggs again. thanks - there goes my breakfast

Answer 10

oh dont spark ths debate.... but in theory yes