Final answer:
The most obvious genetic difference between humans and the African great apes is that humans have 23 chromosomes pairs, whereas gorillas and chimpanzees have 24. Nonetheless, there is a high degree of genetic similarity, with over 97% of DNA shared between the species, leading to many proteins with similar functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most obvious genetic difference between humans and the African great apes, specifically gorillas and chimpanzees, is the number of chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, while gorillas and chimpanzees have 24 pairs. Despite this chromosomal difference, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans have a high degree of genetic similarity, sharing more than 97% of their DNA sequence. This high degree of genetic similarity is reflected in the proteins they produce, with many proteins having similar or identical functions.
However, even with such a high percentage of shared DNA, there are other significant genetic differences, such as the human brain being much larger relative to chimpanzees, and certain genes present in chimps and gorillas having lost function or being absent in humans. It's important to note that although chromosome count is the most obvious difference, the actual genetic divergence is relatively small and has resulted in major morphological differences and adaptations between the species.