Final answer:
It is true that humans and apes share a common ancestor, as evidenced by genetic similarities and evolutionary studies, including cladograms and embryological comparisons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Humans and apes do share a common ancestor. This statement is true. Based on extensive genetic evidence and the study of fossils, scientists have determined that humans and other apes, such as chimpanzees, diverged from a common ancestor millions of years ago. This ancestral species would have had characteristics that are found in both modern humans and modern apes.
The cladogram, which is a diagram depicting the evolutionary relationships between different species, reinforces this idea by showing how closely related humans are to apes through shared ancestry. DNA comparisons further support this view, with a significant percentage of genetic similarities being present between the two groups. For example, humans and chimpanzees share about 98% of their genes. This indicates a common ancestry in the relatively recent past of evolutionary history.
Therefore, the relationship between chimpanzees and humans is best described as diverging from a common ancestor rather than one evolving directly from the other. The study of embryology also highlights similarities in the development patterns of humans and apes, suggesting a shared evolutionary background.