Final answer:
Chimpanzees are the apes with the closest genetic make-up to humans, sharing over 98% identical DNA. They are our closest living relatives within the Hominidae family, which also includes gorillas, orangutans, and humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ape with the closest genetic make-up to humans is the chimpanzee. Genomic studies reveal that humans share over 98% identical DNA with chimpanzees, making them our closest living relatives. Chimpanzees, along with gorillas, orangutans, and humans, are part of the biological family Hominidae. The significant DNA overlap means that we have many proteins with similar or identical functions, underlining our close evolutionary relationship.
While orangutans also share a high degree of genetic similarity and exhibit human-like behaviors, such as the use of tools and caring for their young, it is the chimpanzee that is most closely related to humans in terms of DNA. The divergence between humans and chimpanzees is estimated to have occurred between 5 to 7 million years ago, around the time of the fossil ape Sahelanthropus Thedenses.
As members of the hominids, we belong to a lineage that also includes the advanced apes. The evolution of the hominid family has been marked by an increase in brain size and the development of tool-making techniques, starting with our early ancestor Australopithecus.