Final answer:
Humans share about 98% of their DNA with chimpanzees and over 97% with other great apes like gorillas, indicating a recent common ancestor. Intra-species, humans share over 99% of their DNA with each other. The shared genetic code provides evidence for our close evolutionary relationship with these primates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of how much of our genes are shared with other primates is a fascinating topic in biology. Although it is a common misconception that humans share at most 95% of their genes with one another and no more than 80% with other primates, the truth is far more striking. Studies have shown that humans share about 98% of their DNA with chimpanzees, indicating a close evolutionary relationship and a common ancestor in the not-so-distant past. This similarity extends to other great apes as well, like gorillas, which share more than 97% of their DNA sequence with humans. This evidence supports the understanding that humans and these primates have relatively recent common ancestors.
As for the intra-species genetic diversity, humans are remarkably alike with most individuals sharing more than 99% of their genetic material. This high level of similarity is due to the modern human species originating from a relatively small ancestral population that expanded to inhabit various parts of the world. Advanced genetic technologies, including the findings of the Human Genome Project, reinforce the concept of our shared heritage with other primates through uncovering the details of our genetic code.
Furthermore, while humans have an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 genes, this is not significantly different from far simpler species, emphasizing that the complexity of an organism is not solely determined by the number of genes it possesses. The intricate way in which human cells utilize splicing and other processes to produce multiple proteins from a single gene accounts for a large part of this complexity. Moreover, with only about 25 percent of our DNA making up genes and their regulatory elements, and a mere 2 percent coding for genes, the role of the vast majority of our genome remains a mystery to scientists.