Although ironically humans and chimps are said to be very similar due to how humans have 46 chromosomes will chimps have 48. However, humans have a closer relative in terms of evolution which would be potatoes, yes potatoes. We both have 46 chromosomes but because the idea sounds so absurd and ridiculous it is not spoken of.
Actually Chromosome counts are poor indications of similarity; they can vary widely within a single genus or even a single species. The plant genus Clarkia, for example, has species with chromosome counts of n = 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 26 (Lewis 1993). Chromosome counts in the house mouse species (Mus domesticus) range from 2n = 22 to 40 (Nachman et al. 1994).
Chromosomes can split or join with little effect on the genes themselves. One human chromosome, for example, is very similar to two chimpanzee chromosomes laid end to end; it likely formed from the joining of two chromosomes (Yunis and Prakash 1982). Because the genes can still align, a change in chromosome number does not prevent reproduction. Chromosome counts can also change through polyploidy, where the entire genome is duplicated. Polyploidy, in fact, is a common mechanism of speciation in plants.
Chromosomes are the "packaging" for DNA that is contained inside, it is the DNA that is used more accurately compare ancestory as noted:
Human to Chimp = 99.125%
Human to Potato = 77.564%
Human to Dog = 94.551%
Source:
http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/cy...e_c/index.html