Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Pedigree chart
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Definition== The word pedigree is a corruption of the Anglo-Norman French ''pΓ© de grue'' or "crane's foot", either because the typical lines and split lines (each split leading to different offspring of the one parent line) resemble the thin leg and foot of a [[Crane (bird)|crane]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of PEDIGREE |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedigree |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> or because such a mark was used to denote succession in pedigree charts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-25 |title=pedigree - definition of pedigree in English {{!}} Oxford Dictionaries |url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pedigree |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925105613/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pedigree |archive-date=2016-09-25 }}</ref> A pedigree results in the presentation of family information in the form of an easily readable chart. It can be simply called a "[[family tree]]". Pedigrees use a standardized set of symbols, squares represent males and circles represent females. Pedigree construction is a family history, and details about an earlier generation may be uncertain as memories fade. If the sex of the person is unknown, a diamond is used. Someone with the [[phenotype]] (trait) in question is represented by a filled-in (darker) symbol. [[Heterozygotes]], when identifiable, are indicated by a shaded dot inside a symbol or a half-filled symbol. Relationships in a pedigree are shown as a series of lines. A horizontal line connects parents and a vertical line leads to their offspring. The offspring are connected by a horizontal sibship line and listed in birth order from left to right. If the offspring are twins then they will be connected by a triangle. If an offspring dies then its symbol will be crossed by a line. If the offspring is stillborn or aborted, it is represented by a small triangle. Each generation is identified by a [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] (I, II, III, and so on), and each individual within the same generation is identified by an [[Arabic numerals|Arabic numeral]] (1, 2, 3, and so on). Analysis of the pedigree using the principles of [[Mendelian inheritance]] can determine whether a trait has a dominant or recessive pattern of inheritance. Pedigrees are often constructed after a family member afflicted with a genetic disorder has been identified. This individual, known as the [[proband]], is indicated on the pedigree by an arrow.<ref>Michael R. Cummings "Human Heredity Principles and issues" pg 59-60</ref> These changes may occur yearly or monthly. <gallery> File:Wiki Drawing - Y-Linked (1).svg|In a Y-linked disorder, only males can be affected. If the father is affected all sons will be affected. It also does not skip a generation. File:Wiki Drawing - Mitochondrial.svg|Mitochondrial disorders are only passed on if the mother is affected. If the mother is affected, all offspring will be affected. If the father is affected, he does not pass the disorder on to his offspring. File:Wiki Drawing - Autosomal Recessive (2).svg|In an autosomal recessive disorder, it is possible for both parents to not express the trait but, if both are carriers, for their offspring to express the trait. Autosomal recessive disorders typically skip a generation, so affected offspring typically have unaffected parents. With an autosomal recessive disorder, both males and females are equally likely to be affected. File:Wiki Drawing - Autosomal Dominant (1).svg|Autosomal dominant disorders do not skip a generation, so affected offspring have affected parents. One parent must have the disorder for their offspring to be affected. Both males and females are equally likely to be affected, so it is an autosomal disorder. File:Wiki Drawing - X-Linked Recessive (1).svg|In an X-linked recessive disorder, males are more likely to be affected than females. Affected sons typically have unaffected mothers. The father also must be affected for the daughter to be affected, and the mother must be affected or a carrier for the daughter to be affected. The disorder is also never passed from father to son. Only females can be carriers for the disorders. X-linked recessive disorders also typically skip a generation. File:Wiki Drawing - X-Linked Dominant (1).svg|In an X-linked dominant disorder, if the father is affected, all daughters will be affected and no sons will be affected. It does not skip a generation, and the mother has a 50% chance of passing it on to her offspring if she is affected. </gallery>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)