The Chick Egg Unveiled

EXERCISE

Introduction

The amniote egg of chicken, the same type laid by other birds, reptiles, and monotreme
mammals, is an evolutionary invention that freed vertebrates from the water allowing them to
lay eggs on land. The outer shell offers protection against physical damage and dehydration
while still making gas exchange possible. The egg is packed with enough food and water
helping the embryo with the long journey to hatching. It takes 21 days for the chick to hatch
which would mean that the provisions inside the egg should suffice until hatching. A medium
sized egg (about 60 grams), contains protein (7.2 gm), fat (6 gm), cholesterol (300 mg), and
water (40 gm).

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this exercise, you should be able to:

1. identify the parts of a chick egg;
2. describe the functions of the parts observed; and
3. explain chick development by observing the different structures in a developing
embryo.

Study Schedule
This module should be completed by March 22, 2024. There are 2 activities, which will take
about 3 hours for you to complete as shown in the table.

Activity Task Allotted Time Mode

Number

Activity 1 Dissection of chick egg 1 hour and 30 F2F

minutes

Activity 2 Observation of “balut” 1 hour and 30 F2F

minutes

Now proceed with Activity 1 and the rest of the module.

1) lift the blastodisc to a slide. A disc of white yolk will be attached to the underside of the
cytoplasm. Examine the blastodisc under the dissecting and compound microscopes.
2) If you see a spot of blood in the yolk, this can be either an indication of a developing
embryo (it would have to be in the location of the blastodisc—look at it carefully) or
simply the incorporation of a blood clot from the ovary at the time of ovulation.
3) The yolk would have concentric layers of dark and light yolk which can provide a daily
record of the yolk deposits. Remove an unbroken yolk with a spoon to some boiling
water and boil it for 10 minutes. Then, using a razor blade or sharp scalpel, carefully
bisect the yolk through the middle, starting at the animal pole where the blastodisc is.
Count the rings. Each sequence of a light and dark ring equals one day. How many
days did it take the hen to form your yolk? 15) Record all your observations.