Annabelle Tuma

Professor Weyn

Writing for Engineers

February 6, 2023

Describe an Egg

            “Egg” is a word typically used to describe an object created and laid by female mammals. This object is usually circular to some degree, hard to the touch, and sometimes contains a developing or developed embryo. Though the word “egg” is also used to describe any female reproductive cell, today’s essay will focus on the eggs laid by hens. Though eggs might, at first glance, appear to merely be boring objects, they are actually quite complex and/or useful, which is illustrated by the process that creates them, their physical forms, and the uses that have been found for them. 

            The process of eggs being created and laid by hens is actually always one of two processes. This is because eggs are laid by hens whether or not they have been fertilized. According to Star Milling.com (A website for farmers to learn about their animals), the process of creation takes 25 hours and happens in stages. The hen’s ovary first forms the Yolk when creating an unfertilized egg, then the Yolk is moved by the hen’s body into the Oviduct, where the Egg White is created around the Yolk, the Shell Membrane is then formed around both Egg White and Yolk, followed by the Shell, and the Bloom. The Bloom is also referred to as the cuticle, and is added in the hen’s uterus. This protects the egg from bacteria, and helps keep laid eggs fresh (and edible) for longer. Fertilized eggs are created with a similar process–the stages are identical and happen in the same order– the cells that form the Yolk in the Oviduct are simply different and begin multiplying immediately after insemination, and continue until the baby chick is ready to hatch. Laid eggs, even when fertilized, do not contain baby chicks, hatching happens almost a month after the fertilized egg is laid (according to Moment of Science). The process that hens create their eggs with happens in so many different stages in so many different specialized places in the hen’s body that there can be no doubt that eggs are immensely complicated objects. 

            This idea that eggs are immensely complex is also supported by their physical appearance. Though it was touched upon in the former paragraph, eggs are comprised of many different parts. The outer shell of an egg is quite brittle, easily broken by humans, but nevertheless able to survive the process of being laid and keeping its many internal components unified. The shell can be a wide range of colors, from white or brown, to more coveted (and intentionally cultivated) pastel blues and pinks. Inside the egg is the Yolk and Egg White. Both have a similar consistency that is similar to mucus, though the Yolk is self-contained and remains in a fluid circular shape unless pierced, in which case the fluid of the Yolk (if fresh) will flow like a liquid. The Egg White is somewhat white, but also has clear components. The Egg White and Yolk will naturally remain connected if an egg is broken without disturbing the inside contents, but the Egg White and Yolk can be completely separated with intention to do so. The Egg Yolk is always yellow, but this color can range from pale to nearly-orange. That so many different parts and variations of the egg, not only exist, but occur within a relatively small and irregular oval (the oval shape of an egg is usually wider on one end than the other), can leave little doubt in one’s mind that the egg is enormously complex. 

            The complex nature of these eggs naturally lends itself well to many different ventures. One of the more common uses that has been found is that they can be consumed. According to Egg Info.co., an egg contains about 80 calories and 15 grams of protein. The egg also contains many valuable vitamins. This means that it is a relatively effective and healthy food. People often consume the egg on its own (boiled in the shell, fried in butter or scrambled with milk sans-shell, etc.), consume the egg in baked goods (cake, for example), or even drink raw egg in beverages. Eggs can also be used in many ways that do not include consumption. Egg Whites can be used to make egg tempera paint, and intact Eggshells are often colorfully dyed and painted to celebrate the Christian holiday of Easter. Eggshells can also be added to compost heaps as an effective source of calcium for soil. Eggs can even be used to inflict Salmonella on humans if this is a desired effect, as the Center for Disease Control estimates one in every 20,000 eggs contains Salmonella. With so many varied uses of eggs, it is evident that they are quite useful to humans. 

            In conclusion, eggs are immensely complex and useful. Their complex nature is evident in the way they are formed by hens, and in their complicated appearance. The useful nature of eggs is obvious from the many different ways that humans have found to use eggs, from the shell, to their various internal components. 

 

Sources:

Burtness, Carol Ann. “Handling Eggs Safely to Prevent Salmonella.” UMN Extension, 

            https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/handling-eggs-prevent-salmonella#:

            ~:text=The%20Centers%20for%20Disease%20Control,%2C%20headache%2C%20nausea%20and%20vomiting. 

“Calories in an Egg.” Calories in an Egg | Egg Info, https://www.egginfo.co.uk/egg-nutrition 

            -and-health/egg-nutrition-information/calories-in-an-egg. 

Glass, Don. “When You Eat an Egg Are You Eating a Baby Chick?” A Moment of Science –

            Indiana Public Media, https://indianapublicmedia .org/amomentofscience /eat-egg-eating-baby-                                                        chick.php#:~:text=These%20factories%20rely%20on%20the,be%20eating%20a%20baby%20chick. 

​​“How Eggs Are Formed.” Star Milling Co., 14 Nov. 2022, https://starmilling.com/how-eggs 

            -are-formed /#:~:text=The%20Yolk%20%E2%80%93% 20It%20starts%20with,3%20hours%20to%20be%20formed.