Final answer:
Humans and other apes share a common ancestor as indicated by their close genetic relationship, with humans and chimpanzees sharing approximately 98% of their DNA. The evolutionary tree shows our lineage diverging from other apes around six million years ago with distinct traits developing in the human lineage, such as bipedalism and larger brain sizes.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the evolutionary tree, humans share a common ancestor with other groups of apes, specifically within the Hominidae family. This family includes hominoids like the great apes—chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans—as well as humans. DNA evidence suggests a divergence between humans and chimpanzees from a common ancestor roughly six million years ago. The term hominin is used to refer to species that evolved after this split, making them more closely related to humans than to other apes. It is important to note that humans and apes did not evolve from one another but rather followed different evolutionary paths after branching out from their common ancestor.
Humans and chimpanzees share about 98% of their DNA, which supports the conclusion that they have a common ancestor. Traits such as bipedalism, increased brain size, and tool use are some of the characteristics that have evolved in the human lineage. From the common ancestor, a variety of hominid species emerged, leading to the development of Australopithecus, Homo habilis, and eventually Homo sapiens.
Furthermore, all organisms in the family Hominidae have the potential to develop language and culture, which underscores the similarities we share with great apes. While looking at the evolutionary tree, evidence of this close relationship is highlighted by the degree of genetic overlap and the comparison of physical and behavioral traits.