If humans share 98.8% dna with chimps and 98% with apes what is that1.2-2% difference and how did it occur?
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The 1.2-2% difference has been occuring steadily over he last 14 million years when the great apes (including humans) descended from a common ancestor.
This change has occured due to mutations (errors) in DNA occuring during the production of reproductive cells (meosis). These reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) will replicate themselves to form all the cells of a living human being (mitosis). Additional mutations can occur during mitosis, although these are not typically passed down.
Mutations can be harmful, neutral or positive. Positive ones tend to result in better survival and are more likely to see the person/ape survive and reproduce. Neutral mutations also often continue to pass down.
DNA is just a very long string of repeating 4 repeating molecules. All your cells have the same DNA (generally, there are some exceptions that aren’t important here). The order and number of these 4 molecules is what determines your genetic makeup, and this is the underlying “blueprint” of your body and all its systems. So the difference is just the number and order of DNA that are different between humans and other great apes.
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