It's an age-old puzzle that's stumped generations of scientists.

这是一个困扰了世代科学家的千古谜题。

But now they believe they have cracked the conundrum of what came first: the chicken or the egg.

而如今他们相信自己已经成功破解——究竟是先有鸡还是先有蛋。

British researchers say the chicken must have come first as the formation of eggs is only possible thanks to a protein found in the chicken's ovaries.

英国研究人员表示，一定是先有鸡，因为鸡蛋的构造取决于在母鸡卵巢中发现的一种蛋白。

'It had long been suspected that the egg came first but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first,' said Dr Colin Freeman, from Sheffield University, who worked with counterparts at Warwick University.

谢菲尔德大学的柯林·弗里曼博士说：“人们长期以来怀疑先有蛋，但我们现在掌握的科学证据表明，其实是先有鸡。”他是与华威大学的同仁一起做这项研究。

'The protein had been identified before and it was linked to egg formation but by examining it closely we have been able to see how it controls the process,' he added.

他补充道：“科学家以前就发现了这种蛋白，它与鸡蛋的形成有关，但在仔细研究后，我们终于了解到它是如何控制鸡蛋形成的。”

The protein – called ovocledidin-17 (OC-17) – acts as a catalyst to speed up the development of the shell.

这种蛋白被称为ovocledidin-17(简称OC-17)，是加速蛋壳发育的催化剂。

Scientists used a super computer called HECToR, based in Edinburgh, to 'zoom in' on the formation of an egg.

科学家们利用一台超级电脑“放大”鸡蛋形成的过程。这台超级电脑名为“HECToR”，放在爱丁堡。

It showed OC-17 was crucial in kick-starting crystallisation – the early stages of forming a shell.

结果表明，没有OC-17蛋白，鸡蛋的外表部分就无法结晶，形成蛋壳。

The protein converts calcium carbonate into calcite crystals which makes up the egg shell, creating six grammes of shell every 24 hours.

这种蛋白将碳酸钙转换为构成蛋壳的方解石晶体，每24小时生成6克蛋壳。

Prof John Harding, also of Sheffield University, said the discovery could have other uses.

同为谢菲尔德大学的教授约翰·哈丁说，这项发现还有别的用途。

'Understanding how chickens make shells is fascinating in itself but can also give clues towards designing new materials,' he said.

他说：“揭开母鸡形成鸡蛋之谜本身就很有趣，同时还提供了设计新材料和新技术的线索。”

Next challenge: Why did the chicken cross the road?

下一个将挑战的谜题：为什么鸡要过马路？