Home > Your genes > Where did we come from? > What are our closest animal relatives?
What are our closest animal relatives?
Our closest animal relatives are the great apes: chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas. About 98% of the DNA in your genes is exactly the same as in chimpanzees, making you as closely related to a chimp as horses are to zebras. Chimps and humans share a common ancestor, who was probably swinging through the trees about 5 million years ago. Many other species of ape around at the same time eventually became extinct.
Enlarge
Our closest animal relatives.
Principal Funder:
Major Sponsors:
