Final answer:
Taphonomy involves studying the physical and chemical factors affecting decomposition and fossilization of remains, but not the DNA of the deceased.
Step-by-step explanation:
The science of taphonomy includes the study of numerous factors related to how organisms, particularly their remains, decompose after death and become fossilized over time. However, it does NOT typically include the study of the DNA of the deceased. Taphonomy deals with processes such as the impact of the pH of the soil adjacent to a body, the type of material in which the body is buried, and the effects of runoff and other erosion factors, as these influence the preservation and changes in remains. While DNA analysis can be a part of examining fossilized remains or bodies, the degradation of genetic material takes place immediately after death. The study of DNA comes under the purview of molecular biology and genetics, rather than taphonomy, which prioritizes the physical and chemical factors affecting decomposition and fossilization.