Oogenesis

Abstract

I started flipping through the pages of this book when the expression “Ab Ovo†came to my mind. Ab Ovo, the beginning, the origin, the egg. This reminded me that the idea of correlating the origin of each human being with an egg characterized the human beliefs of the seventeenth century until Francesco Redi, inspired by the study of Iliad, wonders why Achilles asks his mother Thetis how to conserve the lifeless body of his beloved Patroclus. How the goddess can satisfy her son’s request if the spontaneous generation of flies and butterflies from the dead body corresponds to reality? Only by covering Patroclus’ body preventing flies and butterflies from laying their eggs on a dead flesh, is the correct answer!...