curlyclio: Single Object

curlyclio

Wednesday the 17th of February 2010

Listening to: Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Researching in the area of 'single object' an egg came to mind. An egg is a single thing, from the outside there is nothing more to it than the shell. However, the process that happens within an egg when it's fertilized is astounding. From the simplest of beginnings (two gametes combining) this egg can contain a full grown chick within 21 days/3 weeks.

While this dramatic development occurs within the egg, externally it appears exactly the same.

These are some photos of developing chick embryos:

I find this process astounding, but I'm most certainly influenced by my previous interest in veterinary sciences, my brother's studies to become an MD, and my dad's work as a molecular researcher(?) and their willingness to spend time explaining processes within cells and cell development to me.

Apart from the underlying mind-blowing genetics that allow these chicks to develop a heart, brain, legs, wings, follicles, eyes, beaks and everything else they need to survive, I think these embryo's look beautiful and so delicate. Surrounded and supported by capillaries and the nutritious yolk they're so vulnerable.

A focus I'll research further is this protective aspect of the object. Concealing and camouflaging the chick the egg shelters it, preventing predators from realizing the vulnerability of what's inside.