Neanderthals and humans may belong to the same species, say scientists. It could rewrite the history of our evolution.

• Up until recently, the consensus was that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens were separate species.
• But most humans carry around 2% of Neanderthal DNA, challenging the view that we are different. 
• Other studies suggest Neanderthals weren't inferior to Homo sapiens and should be considered human.

Neanderthals have long been portrayed as dim-witted, brutish monsters who were genetically inferior to our direct ancestors, early modern humans.