<p>Wilcoxon rank-sum test results comparing µCT-scanned and unscanned petrous bones across key molecular parameters. Sample sizes vary by metric: for all parameters except nuclear contamination, <i>n</i> = 50 (scanned) and <i>n</i> = 43 (non-scanned); for nuclear contamination (XY individuals only), <i>n</i> = 13 (scanned) and <i>n</i> = 18 (non-scanned). No statistically significant differences were detected for any parameter considered here (<i>p</i> > 0.05; see also Fig 3).</p>

Wilcoxon rank-sum test results comparing µCT-scanned and unscanned petrous bones across key molecular parameters. Sample sizes vary by metric: for all parameters except nuclear contamination, n = 50 (scanned) and n = 43 (non-scanned); for nuclear contamination (XY individuals only), n = 13 (scanned) and n = 18 (non-scanned). No statistically significant differences were detected for any parameter considered here (p > 0.05; see also Fig 3).