Final answer:
The surety components of SOP, including peer review, audits, and training, aim to maintain the integrity of scientific and technical activities. Taphonomy does not fall under the surety practices of SOP, as it is the study of fossilization processes. Peer review ensures that research is subjected to expert scrutiny before publication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surety portion of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) encompasses a variety of components that ensure the reliability and integrity of scientific and technical operations. However, taphonomy, which is the study of the processes through which organic material becomes fossilized, is not related to the surety practices of SOP. The correct answer to the question is 'a. Taphonomy.' Other components, such as peer review, audits, and training, are integral to the SOP's surety by ensuring that research is original, significant, logical, and thorough.
Peer review, in particular, is the process that helps to guarantee the quality of scientific work by subjecting it to the scrutiny of other experts in the field before it is published or presented. This critical evaluation is a fundamental aspect of scientific communication and accountability.