Pedigree charts Slide

The family tree of genetics 1

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Overview
Autosomal dominant
I. What is a
pedigree?
a. Definition
b. Uses

II. Constructing a
pedigree
a. Symbols
b. Connecting the symbols

III. Interpreting a If this were autosomal recessive, you would not

expect individual #7 to not express the trait. Note
pedigree that matings between non-expressing individuals
always produce non-expressing offspring. This tells
you that the expressed trait is dominant.
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What is a pedigree?

• A graphic representation of how a

trait is passed from parents to
offspring.
• A chart of the genetic history of
family over several generations.
• A genetic counselor would find out
about your family history and make
this chart to analyze.
Constructing a pedigree

• Female

• Male
 Connecting pedigree 5

symbols
Examples of connected symbols:

• Fraternal twins
• Identical twins
 Connecting pedigree 6

symbols
Examples of connected symbols:

Parents

Siblings
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Example

What does a pedigree chart look like?

 Pedigree Chart 8

Symbols
Affected

X-linked

Carrier

Deceased
 Interpreting a pedigree 9

chart
Determine if the pedigree chart shows an
autosomal or X-linked disease.
• If most of the males in the pedigree are
affected the disorder is X-linked
• If it is a 50:50 ratio between men and
women the disorder is autosomal*.

* autosomal is a chromosome which is not a sex

chromosome.
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Example of pedigree charts
1. Is it Autosomal or X-linked?
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Answer 1
• Autosomal
 Interpreting a pedigree 12

chart
Determine whether the disorder is
dominant or recessive.
• If the disorder is dominant, one of the
parents must have the disorder.
• If the disorder is recessive, neither parent
has to have the disorder because they can
be heterozygous.
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Example of pedigree charts

2. Dominant or Recessive?
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Answer 2
Dominant
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Example of pedigree charts

3. Dominant or Recessive?
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Answer 3
• Recessive
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Additional Symbols 17
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Queen Victoria 18

Descendants & Hemophilia

Pedigree
showing
inheritance of
hemophilia,
an X-linked
trait.
Many
descendants
in the 3rd &
4th
generations
omitted as no
mutant gene.
Offspring
whose status
is uncertain
are indicated
with a
question
mark.
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Problem 1
• In humans, albinism is a recessive trait.
• The disorder causes a lack of pigment
in the skin and hair.
• This results in an albino appearing very
pale with white hair and pale blue eyes.
• This disorder also occurs in animals, a
common albino found in a laboratory is
the white rat.
• The pedigrees below trace the
inheritance of the allele that causes
albinism
Salif Keïta (born August 25, 1949) is an afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not
only because of his reputation as the "Golden Voice of Africa" but because he has albinism and
is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita.
 Problems
• 1. Given the following
genotypes, describe the
phenotypes (normal or
albino)
• AA =
_______normal______
Aa = ______normal_______
aa = _____albino_________
• 2. Fill out the blanks on the
pedigree below.
Remember that gray
squares indicate that the
person has the two
recessive alleles (aa) and is
an albino
• aa x Aa
Aa, Aa, aa
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Answers
1. Given the following
genotypes, describe the
phenotypes (normal or
albino)
• AA = normal
• Aa = normal
• aa = albino
aa Aa
2. Fill out the blanks on the
pedigree below. Remember
that gray squares indicate
that the person has the two
recessive alleles (aa) and is Aa Aa aa
an albino
• aa x Aa
• Aa, Aa, aa
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Problems
3. How many
children does this
family have?
______
4.What are the sexes
of the children?
______
5. Fill out the blanks
of the pedigree
below (AA, Aa, aa)
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Answers
3. How many
children does this Aa Aa
family have? 2
4.What are the sexes
of the children?
Female, Male aa Aa Aa
5. Fill out the blanks
of the pedigree
below (AA, Aa, aa)
aa Aa aa Aa Or
aa AA
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Problems
10. How many children
does the original couple
have? ______

11. How many

grandchildren?
________
12. What are the sexes of
the children?
___________
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Problems
10. How many children
does the original couple
have? 2

11. How many

grandchildren? 3

12. What are the sexes of

the children?
Female, Male
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Summary
• Pedigrees are family trees explaining your
genetic history.
• Pedigrees are used to find out the probability
of a child having a disorder in a particular
family.
• To begin to interpret a pedigree, determine if
the disease or condition is autosomal or X-
linked and dominant or recessive.
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Additional Symbols
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Additional Symbols
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Homework
• Find out which family members (as many
as you can; siblings, parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,
great-grand parents, etc.) with listed
traits.
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Homework