How do scientists determine what foods were eaten by extinct hominins such as Neanderthals? In the past, researchers were limited to studying the marks found on the fossilized teeth of skeletons, but in 2017 a team led by Laura Weyrich of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA tried something ________ the DNA found in Neanderthals' fossilized dental plaque.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?