So it's a question of semantics rather than DNA?
Since we habitually call things without calcium shells, eggs, it must be the word in front that becomes the defining one.
If you call it a chicken's egg then it needs to have been laid by a chicken because the egg belongs to the chicken that laid it. However, if you call it a chicken egg, it has to contain a chicken, but is free to have been laid by not-quite-a-chicken?


8) Does it need rails?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2010 01:20PM by geg.

delacuesta Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> <Geg, as stated in previous posts, it is the definition of "chicken" and "egg" that makes the answer. In your definition, egg came first. In my definition, protochick came first>


I think that we would all agree that the protochick came before the chicken or the egg, but did the protoegg come before or after the protochick?

As mammals also produce eggs, but don't usually expose them to a harsh environment, they dispense with the need to encase them in calcium. Could it just be The Daily Mail got it wrong (again)?

0) Primarily mineral, but may contain vegetable and even animal elements.
1) Would it fit inside the average bread box? No.
2) Does it have moving parts? Yes, definitely.
3) Is it electric/electronic? Not necessarily.
4) Is it a form of transport? Yes.
5) Does it have at least 3 wheels? Yes.
6) Is it normally found on roads? No.
7) Is it found on farms? No. Chickens and eggs are found on farms.
8) Does it need rails? No.

<Geg: Yes, it is semantics. The rest of your argument is (at least in part) circular, and therefore invalid>
<Skidmarks: It is not that mammals ever dispensed with the calcium shell - they never developed the ability (*). Birds did. The common predecessor, reptiles, neither have nor had calcium shells (*). So some shebird (admittedly not a chicken) laid the first calcium shelled egg. Only this and nothing more>

(*) to my knowledge

[edited 3 times to remove mispelings]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2010 07:48PM by delacuesta.

Can it fly?

9) Can it fly? No.

Ahah! I did not actually write that they dispensed with the calcium shell. They dispensed with the need. A totally different kettle of fish. (Also an category of animal that avoided needing calcium.)

Is it usually used by a person with a disability?

10) Is it usually used by a person with a disability? No.

<Okay, I misread your statement on need. But mind, need doesn't exist in evolution. It's more about ability and advantage>



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2010 04:14PM by delacuesta.

Is it a shopping trolley?

11) Is it a shopping trolley? No.

Darn!

Is it a pram?

0) Primarily mineral, but may contain vegetable and even animal elements.
1) Would it fit inside the average bread box? No.
2) Does it have moving parts? Yes, definitely.
3) Is it electric/electronic? Not necessarily.
4) Is it a form of transport? Yes.
5) Does it have at least 3 wheels? Yes.
6) Is it normally found on roads? No.
7) Is it found on farms? No. Chickens and eggs are found on farms.
8) Does it need rails? No.
9) Can it fly? No.
10) Is it usually used by a person with a disability? No.
11) Is it a shopping trolley? No.
12) Is it a pram?


13) Can it be folded up?

Edited for confusion.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2010 10:19AM by EgonSpengler.

13) does it normally have an engine?

You left out MC's question:

11a) Is it a pram?

12) Is it a pram? No.
13) Can it be folded up? No.

I choose to ignore question 11a.

What was question 11a?

I guess it was identical to some other question in some other one's numbering system. I adhere strictly to my own.

You ignored number 13 too - and you're very fond of number 13 - I remember it distinctly from other rounds.

Oops! My apologies. But still I maintain my own numbering.

14) Does it normally have an engine? Yes!

0) Primarily mineral, but may contain vegetable and even animal elements.
1) Would it fit inside the average bread box? No.
2) Does it have moving parts? Yes, definitely.
3) Is it electric/electronic? Not necessarily.
4) Is it a form of transport? Yes.
5) Does it have at least 3 wheels? Yes.
6) Is it normally found on roads? No.
7) Is it found on farms? No. Chickens and eggs are found on farms.
8) Does it need rails? No.
9) Can it fly? No.
10) Is it usually used by a person with a disability? No.
11) Is it a shopping trolley? No.
12) Is it a pram? No.
13) Can it be folded up? No.
14) Does it normally have an engine? Yes!

Hmm, an engine, at least three wheels, moving parts, not necessarily electric, not found on roads...

15) Is it a lawnmower (the ones with seats)?