Scientists use fossilised finger bone DNA to rebuild ancient human

Unprecedented feat reveals little-known Denisovans resembled Neanderthals but had 'super-wide' skulls

One of the most mysterious relatives in the human family has stepped out of the shadows after scientists used ancient DNA from a fossilised finger to reconstruct their appearance.

The unprecedented feat, described as "exciting" and "extraordinary" by one leading researcher who was not involved in the work, shows that the Denisovans looked similar to the Neanderthals, but had wider heads and more protruding jaws.