Family trees
Pedigree analysis
Doctors can use a A family tree diagram which show the inheritance of a genetic condition in a family, eg cystic fibrosis. to show how genetic disorders are inherited in a family. They can use this to work out the The extent to which something is likely to be the case. that someone in a family will inherit a condition. A pedigree analysis is usually undertaken if families are referred to a genetic counsellor following the birth of an affected child.
The pedigree analysis chart is used to show the relationship within an extended family. Males are indicated by the square shape and females are represented by circles. Affected individuals are red and unaffected are blue. Horizontal lines between males and females show that they have produced children.
This analysis shows both male and female are affected, and every generation has affected individuals. There is one family group that has no affected parents or children, but the remaining two families have one affected parent and affected children too.
