Flow chart representation of the evolutionary process proposed. The initial population of tau mutant flies is divided into two groups, Population 1 and Population 2. Population 2 functions as a control, representing evolution in the absence of additional mutations, but under selective pressure. Population 2 is placed into a population cage that includes 2500 tau mutant flies that will compete with an equal number of wild-type flies for limited food and water. When between 90 and 99% of the mutants have died, the surviving mutants are bred with female flies from the initial stock to produce a new generation. The males of this new generation are placed back into the population cage to compete against a new group of wild-type male flies.

Population 1 functions as the experimental population. Two thousand five hundred tau mutants from Population 1 will be irradiated to induce random mutagenesis on the tau mutant background. These 2500 flies will then be placed into a population cage to compete against an equal number of wild-type flies. When between 90 and 99% of these mutants have died, the surviving mutants are bred with the female flies from the initial stock. Two thousand five hundred flies will be removed from the resulting generation and divided into two equal groups. One group will receive treatment with irradiation before being placed into the population cage and the second group will receive no additional mutagenic treatment before being placed into the population cage. Together, these two groups will compete against 2500 new wild-type male flies for limited resources. Such a strategy ensures that new mutations are introduced while increasing the likelihood that beneficial mutations that have already occurred are maintained in the population. This process is then repeated until increased longevity is seen based on statistical comparison.