Genes associated with adaptation to high altitude, dark skin, and specific physiological traits can be identified in the Denisovan genome.

A 2019 study used the Denisovan genome to reconstruct aspects of the Denisovan anatomy — essentially predicting what skeletal features the Denisovan genome would produce based on the relationships between specific genetic variants and skeletal morphology in modern humans.

The resulting reconstruction was somewhat surprising.

The predicted Denisovan morphology showed a skull that was long and wide, with projecting midfaces, large teeth, and an overall form that combined Neanderthal-like and archaic-like features in a distinctive configuration.

The reconstructed Denisovan looked neither like a Neanderthal nor like a modern human, but like a distinctive third type of ancient human with its own specific combination of features.