Case 1; Egg

19 important questions on Case 1; Egg

The dimensions of animals' egg cells vary widely from species to species; this variation is linked to the quantity of yolk

- The size and shape of egg cells in animals differ significantly among species, and this diversity is associated with the amount of yolk present.
- Yolk serves as a nutrient source for the developing embryo, and variations in yolk quantity impact embryonic development and the reproductive strategies of different species

What are oligolecithal egg cells?

- mammalian egg cells
- Moderate/little yolk quantity.
- Yolk is concentrated at one pole of the egg.
- Common in organisms undergoing meroblastic (partial) cleavage.

What are telolecithal egg cells?

- Large yolk quantity.
- Yolk is unevenly distributed, often concentrated at one pole.
- A rather small quantity of cytoplasm collected at one pole
- Typically observed in organisms with meroblastic cleavage.
- Applies to certain insects, fish, reptiles and birds
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What is a germinal spot?

- A small light-coloured spot on the surface of the yolk
- is structured and incorporate in such a way that it always faces upwards, irrespective of the egg's position

What can you tell me about the white of the egg?

- has a nutritional function and a a protective function
- protective function:
-> elastic, cushions impact, and insulates
-> mechanical and chemical protection
- chemical protection -> certain substances have an antibacterial effect

What can you tell me about the egg shell?

- consist to 93-98% out of calcium carbonate
- shell is porous -> so that gas exchange between embryo and environment is possible
- shell is covered on the outside by thin layer -> the cuticula

Wich 4 proteins occur in egg white?

1. Ovalbumin (75%) -> coagulates under the influence of heat
2. Ovomucoid (13%) -> are glycoproteins, or poteins bonded to carbohydrate. Stabilise the egg white foam
3. Ovomucin (7%) -> are glycoproteins, or poteins bonded to carbohydrate. Stabilise the egg white foam
4. Ovoglobulin -> contributes to beining able to beat egg white into a foam

What can you tell me about the shape of the egg

- mainly determined genetically
- round, cylindrical, pointed, pear-shaped (etc.)
- shape index (72-76)
-> used to assess the shape quantitatively
-> (proportion of the width / the length of the egg) x 100

Wich factors can lead to a decline in shell thickness?

1. High ambient temperature
2. calcium deficiency in the feed
3. stress
4. disease
5. medications
6. large eggs during the last part of the laying

What can you tell me about the colour of the yolk?

Mainly determined by the xanthophyll concentration in the feed

Which factors determine the occurrence of blood in an egg?

1. Feed
2. Age of the hen
3. Hereditary predisposition
- brown eggs reveal more blood traces then white eggs

What are 3 factors that influence the end of the laying cycle?

1. Boodiness -> if eggs are not removed from the nest, the hen may become broody
-> hormone prolactin plays a role
-> largely genetic determined, but also dependent on temperature, light regime and opportunity to build a nest
2. Moulting -> falling out of old and growth of new feathers
-> moulting period is a type of physiological resting phase or pause in the laying
-> the thyroid hormone plays a role
3. Shortage of essential nutritiens for egg production through reduction of reserves in the body

Laying in the first period (first ovulation to start of regular laying) comes with some irregularrities, which 5?

1. Production of more than one egg per day
2. Poduction of wind eggs
3. Production of double yolks
4. Irrregular production with long intervals between the eggs
5. Production of yolks not captured by infundibulum -> internal laying

What can you tell me about the scale of the egg?

- outermost protection of the egg, consisting of calcium carbonate
- is white or brown, depending on the species
- shell colour does not influence quality, cooking characteristics or nutritional value

What can you tell me about the yolk membrane?

- a clear membrane that keeps the yolk mass in position

What can you tell me about the air chamber in the egg?

- a bag of air at the rounded end of the egg
- caused by shrinking of the egg contents as a result of cooling after laying
- increases in size as the egg ages

What can you tell me about the shell membrane?

- two membranes, the innermost and outermost shell membranes, surrounded the egg white
- these form a protective barrier against penetrating bacteria
- the air chamber forms between these to membranes

What can you tell me about the thin egg white?

- closest to the shell
- surounds the thick egg white of a quality egg

What can you tell me about the thick egg white?

- outstanding source of riboflavin and protein
- stands up higher and spreads less than the thin in quality eggs
- it becomes thinner and more watery and less distinguishable from the thing egg white with eggs of lowe quality

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