• Question: Are there cells in eggs?

    Asked by livi to Callum, Katie, Michelle, Sam on 22 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Sam Godfrey

      Sam Godfrey answered on 22 Nov 2012:

      An egg is actually one cell. It is the largest single cell that we produce. I think Katie could answer your question better than I can though as she is an expert on this.

      Sam

    • Photo: Katie Howe

      Katie Howe answered on 22 Nov 2012:

      Hi livi,

      Sam is absolutely right! A human egg is just one single cell – it is the largest cell than humans produce (about the size of a full stop) which means you can even see it without a microscope! You can see a picture of some of these eggs on my profile page.

      If you are thinking of a chicken egg then that also contains just one cell! The nucleus (the brain of the cell) is found near to the yellow yolky part and the yolk itself is part of the cytoplasm of the egg and contains all the nutrients that the egg would need if it had been fertilised by a roosters sperm! The eggshell provides protection for the egg and is made out of a mesh of very strong molecules.

      Even a giant ostrich egg contains just one single cell (but a very large one!) It sounds a bit weird I know but I still like eating chicken eggs!

      I hope that answers your question!

      Katie

    • Photo: Callum Johnston

      Callum Johnston answered on 22 Nov 2012:

      If a chicken’s egg is unfertilsed, like the ones we eat, then there are no cells inside it because it is one single cell! However, if it is fertilised by a male then the baby bird will grow inside that egg so it will contain many millions of cells. The human egg cell is the largest in the body but it is tiny compared to the eggs chickens and other birds produce. The ostrich egg is the largest single cell in the world!

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