To support this hypothesis, she performed an experiment in which she demonstrated that mutant strains of D. radiodurans which are highly susceptible to damage from ionizing radiation are also highly susceptible to damage from prolonged desiccation, while the wild-type strain is resistant to both.
Para apoiar esta hipótese, realizou un experimento no cal demostrou que as cepas mutantes de D. radiodurans, que son moi susceptibles aos danos producidos por radiacións ionizantes son tamén moi susceptibles aos danos causados por unha prolongada desecación, mentres que as cepas de tipo salvaxe son resistentes a ambas as cousas.