The petrous bone contains high concentrations of osteocytes: one possible reason why ancient DNA is better preserved in this bone.
J. Ibrahim, V. Brumfeld, Y. Addadi, S. Rubin, S. Weiner, E. Boaretto
The paper investigates why ancient DNA is better preserved in petrous bones by showing they contain three times more osteocytes than other bones, which may preserve more DNA during fossilization.
bioRxiv · May 20, 2022Zoology