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Science, culture and nature of the egg
All of us originated from the egg cell. Thanks to it, our DNA is transferred from one generation to the next, making the egg a unique vehicle for immortality. It has always aroused curiosity, desire for discovery and has inspired artists of all time.
Some of the questions the authors try to answer are:
How do the banks for the storage of human eggs work? What is the fate of the cells that are not used for fertilization? What we can do, thanks to genetic engineering to “correct” the errors in the egg and give birth to a healthy person? Is there a formula for boiling the egg? How does the cuckoo done hatch eggs from other birds? And what about the amazing Emma Morano, 116 years old Italina woman ? It is possible that her longevity depends on the 3 eggs consumed every morning?
Starting from the most recent discoveries in science – in some of which the two authors are directly involved – the book widens the investigation to all areas and disciplines in which the egg has a meaning: from art to architecture, from biotechnology to mathematics, from folklore to gastronomy.
Nature and human culture are well translated into a polyphony of themes and ideas extremely enjoyable and challenging.
A deeply documented book, but also very funny, that does not avoid reflections on the hot current scientific topics. With essays by: Piergiorgio Odifreddi, Luigi Bignami, Carlo Sini, Alessandro Scafi and Giuseppe Caliceti.

Preface
Introduction
Ch. 1 Ab ovo, or who came first
Ch. 2 Fertilization
Ch. 3 Preservation
Ch. 4 Production
Ch. 5 In and out
Ch. 6 Art and so on
Ch. 7 Curiosities and traditions
Ch. 8 From the lab to the kitchen
Variations on the theme

Carlo Alberto Redi is Professor of Zoology at the University of Pavia and director of the Laboratory of Developmental Biology. He is a member of the Accademia dei Lincei. He is the author of The furious biologist (Sironi, 2011).

Manuela Monti is a biologist. She works at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo of Pavia. She collaborates with many institutes of research in USA and Japan. She is coauthor with Redi of Staminali. Dai cloni alla medicina rigenerativa (Carocci, 2015).