Pedigree Analysis

Week 4
What is Pedigree?
➢used to analyze the
pattern of inheritance of a
particular trait throughout
a family
➢show the presence or
absence of a trait as it
relates to the relationship
among parents, offspring,
and siblings.
What is Pedigree Analysis?
➢Approach to study the
inheritance of genes in
humans.
• Useful in determining if the
trait is dominant or
recessive.
• Useful in determining if the
trait is sex-linked or not
• Allows genetic disorders to
be tracked throughout
multiple generations
Symbols used in Pedigree Analysis
Pedigrees & Punnett Square
 Pedigrees & Punnett Square

➢Pedigrees can be used

in conjunction with
Punnett squares to
determine the
genotypes.
How to read Pedigree?
➢ Determining whether the
trait is dominant or recessive.

➢Determine if the chart shows

an autosomal or sex-linked (X-
linked) trait.
Dominant vs. Recessive
 Dominant pedigree
➢ For those traits
exhibiting dominant gene
action:

• affected individuals have at

least one affected parent
• the phenotype generally
appears every generation
• two unaffected parents only
have unaffected offspring
 Recessive pedigree
➢ And for those traits
exhibiting recessive gene
action:

• unaffected parents can

have affected offspring
• affected progeny are both
male and female
Types of Pedigrees
 Autosomal Dominant Pedigrees

➢Can’t skip generations.

➢Unshaded individuals
are all homozygous
recessive.
➢Shaded individuals are
heterozygous or
homozygous dominant.
Example
 Autosomal Recessive Pedigrees
➢ Can(but don’t have to)
skip generations.
➢Shaded individuals are
homozygous recessive.
➢Unshaded individuals
that have shaded
children must be
heterozygous.
Example
 X-linked Dominant Pedigrees
➢ All daughters of a male who
has the trait will also have the
trait.
➢There is no male to male
transmission; the trait follows
the inheritance of the X-
chromosome.
➢Sons can have the trait only if
their mother also has the trait.
➢Same inheritance pattern as
autosomal dominant traits in
human females.
Example
 X-linked Recessive Pedigrees
➢ Can (but don’t have to)
skip generations.
➢Males only need one copy
of gene to show trait.
➢If a female has it, all of
her sons will have it.
➢In order for a female to
get it, her father must
have it.
Example