UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
We are all students. I am a mom and an employee. I cracked an egg and a yolk plus an extra little egg was inside it . Why? . It was creepy cool. No it was not another yolk. I have seen eggs with double yolks before. I’m just wondering.
Question Date: 2019-09-17
Answer 1:

Thanks for the interesting observation! It sounds like you cracked an egg, only to find another egg inside of it! Turns out that this is quite a rare event called counter-peristalsis contraction.

Typically, the ovum, what eventually develops into the yolk, is released from the hen's ovary and is pushed along through the oviduct. During this process, the shell is added layer by layer until fully formed just before the egg is laid. However, should the hen have a hormonal imbalance or experience a fright or a shock, the developing egg might be pushed in the reverse direction -- back to the ovary. The first egg -- with its developing shell -- might then be added to a second yolk that the ovary releases before the first one is laid. Then, a shell will form around that second yolk and the original egg resulting in an egg within an egg.

I found this video with a nice illustration of how this happens: watch here. Thanks again,


Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use