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Petrous bone

The dense pyramid-shaped portion of the temporal bone forming part of the skull base. Highest mineralisation density of any skeletal element correlates with superior DNA preservation; now the preferred sampling site in DVI and ancient-DNA casework.

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Related terms

Allele drop-inAllele drop-outBiological profileCommingled remainsD-loopDVI (Disaster Victim Identification)EDTA decalcificationEpiphyseal fusionHeteroplasmyICMP (International Commission on Missing Persons)Minimum Number of Elements (MNE)Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI)

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