Humans are indeed closely related to apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans. All these species, along with humans, belong to the family Hominidae and are commonly referred to as the "great apes."
From an evolutionary perspective, humans share a common ancestor with these great apes, and our genetic and anatomical similarities reflect this close relationship. DNA evidence has shown that humans and chimpanzees, for example, share approximately 98-99% of their DNA, making them our closest living relatives.
Regarding our relationship with other extinct hominin species such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, recent genetic research has shed light on our interconnectedness. Both Neanderthals and Denisovans were ancient human relatives who lived in Eurasia tens of thousands of years ago. Studies have found that modern humans outside Africa have traces of Neanderthal DNA in their genomes, indicating that interbreeding between early modern humans and Neanderthals occurred.
Similarly, the discovery of Denisovans occurred through DNA analysis of a finger bone and teeth found in the Denisova Cave in Siberia. It was found that Denisovans also interbred with early modern humans and that present-day populations in Asia, Oceania, and some Native American groups carry traces of Denisovan DNA.
The interbreeding between ancient human species and early modern humans has contributed to the genetic diversity seen in present-day human populations. It also highlights that humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans shared a common ancestry at some point in the past, further emphasizing our close relationships in the grand story of human evolution.