It helps us to find out whether the gene is dominant or recessive and autosomal or sex-linked.

And the
chances of expressing itself in the coming generations.
In the case of autosomal genes:
 It equally affects both males and females.
In the case of sex-linked genes:
 Affects the males as they are hemizygous.
 The gene shows criss-cross inheritance i.e., the gene from the father is transferred to the grandson through
the daughters.
 In the case of a sex-linked dominant gene, more females are affected than males.
 Never transferred from father to son.
In the case of dominant genes:
 One or both the parents have the disorder.
 It expresses itself in every generation.
 The disorder is common in the pedigree.
 The genotype is either homozygous (BB) or heterozygous (Bb).
 It affects one-half of the children.
In the case of recessive genes:
 Neither of the parents may have the disorder.
 The disorder is rare in the pedigree.
 Both parents are either heterozygous or homozygous recessive.
 The disorder skips generations.
 The genotype is always homozygous (bb).
 Affected offspring are born to unaffected parents.
In the case of Holandric ( Y-linked) genes:
 Affects the males only.
 Father transfers it to son.
 It never skips generations.
In the case of Cytoplasmic genes:
 Gene is inherited from mother.
 Affected mother transfers the gene to all its offspring.
Pedigree 1:
 A sex-linked recessive character.
 It mainly affects the males.
 The gene skips generation.
 Criss-cross inheritance is seen.
Pedigree 2:

It is an autosomal dominant character.

 It affects male and female equally.
 The gene expresses itself in each generation.
Pedigree 3:
 It is an autosomal recessive character.
 The gene skips generation.
 Does not show criss-cross inheritance.
Pedigree 4:

It is a holandric gene.
 As it affects only males.
 The gene is transferred from father to son.
 Pedigree 5:

It is a cytoplasmic gene.
 Gene is inherited from the mother.
 As it affects all the offsprings.