A student studying bird development recorded the mass of eggs from the time they were laid until the time they hatched in order to relate the mass of the egg to the final mass of the chick.

-Which of these is the correct explanation of mass change in developing eggs as illustrated in the graph?

Question

A student studying bird development recorded the mass of eggs from the time they were laid until the time they hatched in order to relate the mass of the egg to the final mass of the chick.
 
-Which of these is the correct explanation of mass change in developing eggs as illustrated in the graph?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option B is the correct explanation because as the developing bird inside the egg uses cellular respiration to fuel growth, it breaks down organic molecules and produces CO2, which is released from the egg, causing a decrease in mass. Therefore, the mass of the egg decreases as the developing bird uses the egg's contents to build new body parts. Option A is incorrect because the developing bird does not grow new parts but forms organs and tissues from the available nutrients in the egg. Option C is also incorrect because there is a change in mass due to the consumption of the egg's contents by the developing bird.

A Student Studying Bird Development Recorded the Mass of Eggs