Here's a breakdown:
* Primates: Humans belong to the order Primates, which includes monkeys, apes, and lemurs.
* Hominoids: Within primates, humans belong to the family Hominoids, which includes apes (great apes and lesser apes).
* Great Apes: Within Hominoids, humans are specifically classified as great apes, along with gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans.
Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest living relatives, sharing approximately 98.7% of our DNA. This close genetic relationship means we share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.
It's important to note:
* While we share a common ancestor with apes, we are not descended from apes. Instead, we share a common ancestor that evolved into different branches, resulting in humans and apes.
* Humans and apes have been evolving independently for millions of years, leading to significant differences in our physical and cognitive abilities.