Answer :
Final answer:
Humans and apes share a common ancestor, which highlights their evolutionary relationship. Humans are not directly descended from modern apes, but both groups evolved from a shared ancestral lineage. Understanding this relationship is key in evolutionary biology.
Explanation:
Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Apes
The most accurate statement regarding the relationship between humans and apes is that humans and apes share a common ancestor. This means that modern humans (Homo sapiens) and the various species of apes (such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans) evolved from a shared ancestor that lived millions of years ago. It is important to note that while humans are not directly descended from any of the extant (currently living) apes, we share a lineage that branched off in different evolutionary directions.
This shared ancestry is supported by extensive fossil evidence, as well as genetic studies that show a close genetic relationship between humans and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. Current evolutionary theory posits that both humans and modern apes have evolved separately but still retain traits from their common ancestor.
Learn more about evolutionary relationship here:
https://brainly.com/question/31865657
