**The evolutionary role of males in*C. elegans***

Chasnov, Jeffrey R.

Department of Mathematics; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Kowloon, Hong Kong

Submitted: 05/29/12

Accepted: 06/12/12

http://dx.doi.org/

Correspondence to: Jeffrey R. Chasnov; Email: [email protected]

Worm 2(1):p e21146-5, January-February-March 2013.

Although the nematode wormCaenorhabditis elegansreproduces primarily as a self-fertilizing hermaphrodite, males are maintained in natural populations at low frequency. In this commentary, I discuss the evolutionary forces that maintain males and the role males might play in this mating system.

The evolutionary role of males inC. elegans

**The evolutionary role of males in*C. elegans***