I read the article; Men Can be Such Worms (and Vice Versa) by Douglas Quenqua. This article discusses the developing theory that male roundworms secrete signaling molecules that have the ability to shorten a non-male roundworm’s lifespan. They use the term non-male because studies have shown that these signaling molecules affect both female and hermaphrodite roundworms. Researchers have found that non-male roundworms that are in contact with their male counterparts have a 20% shorter lifespan. However, researchers do not definitively know when the roundworms secrete the signaling molecules, but they have reason to believe that this secretion occurs after sexual intercourse, or copulation. They believe that there are evolutionary benefits to the roundworms’ secretion. They see the secretion’s ability to shorten a non-male roundworm’s life after copulation, as a way is to preserve resources for the offspring and to diminish the mating selection for other males.

This scientific finding is very insightful as it supports the evolutionary theory proposed by Charles Darwin. By lessening the female roundworms’ lifespan, male roundworm secretion increases the natural selection, as only the most fit will be able to reproduce with the depleting number of females. We are also able to see the tremendous affect that male have over the non-male, and that the female roundworms’ main objective is to reproduce. However, this information doesn’t scientifically relate to humans as researchers believe that  “such behavior is unlikely to extend to mammals, [because] they rely on the mother to care for the offspring.”

I found this article to be extremely interesting. I like that it was short and to the point. However, I thought the author should have explained what “copulation” was because I found myself searching for the definition. I would have also liked to see some actual data from their research as it would give more credibility to the article. Overall, I thought the author did a good job explaining his topic and I think I have an adequate understanding of the topic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/science/men-can-be-such-worms-and-vice-versa.html?_r=0