Which was first the egg or the chicken?

Question: Which was first the egg or the chicken?
- Keywords:
  chicken,
  egg
Asked by Alex A to Carrie, Cedric, Ellen, Ines, Rupert on 7 Mar 2017. This question was also asked by Martina, Robbo+Homingpigeon :), JoeMattock11, Han-solo28.
- Rupert Marshall answered on 7 Mar 2017:
  
  Haha, good question. In fact the answer is easy – it’s the egg. Eggs were around for thousands and thousands of years before birds appeared – and longer still before chickens evolved. Most reptiles lay eggs – think of lizards. The first birds evolved from dinosaurs – and dinosaurs laid eggs. The earliest flying dinosaur is the Archeopteryx; we think all birds evolved from this animal
- Ines Goncalves answered on 7 Mar 2017:
  
  The egg, definitely the egg. But Cedric is the chicken specialist!
- Ellen Williams answered on 9 Mar 2017:
  
  I think Rupert has this question sussed! Although what came first the chicken or the chicken egg… I have absolutely no idea! One of life’s little mysteries!
- Carrie Ijichi answered on 9 Mar 2017:
  
  What Rupert said!
- Cedric Tan answered on 14 Mar 2017:
  
  Ooooo very interesting question. From an evolutionary view point, the egg! Birds evolved from reptiles which lay eggs, as mentioned by Rupert.

Question: Which was first the egg or the chicken?