1. Family History Snapshot: Pedigrees
Rita Leone, RN, MSN, CMSRN

2. The Pedigree Drawing of family tree
Aids in spotting patterns which may be helpful in diagnosing or managing an individual’s health
Specific symbols/”rules”

3. Why is Family History Important?

4. *National Society of Genetic Counselors website:www.nsgc.org
Sample Pedigree
*National Society of Genetic Counselors website:

5. Creating a Pedigree: Easy as
1-2-3
Creating a Pedigree: Easy as
1) Obtain info from family
2) Draw basic outline
3) Record info

6. Pedigrees: Keeping It Simple!

7. Step 1: Obtaining Family History
Write list of all family members—including yourself
Grandparents
Parents
Children
Brothers/sisters
Aunts/uncles
Nieces/nephews
Cousins
Be respectful of privacy as health is sensitive topic

8. Step 1: What information is needed
Age/DOB
Date of death
Ethnicity/race/nationality
Medical Conditions
Include birth defects
Learning problems/mental retardation
For those with medical conditions…
Smoking, exercise, diet
Age of diagnosis

9. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree
Symbols Used

10. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree
Start with yourself
Place yourself towards the bottom/middle of center of page as older generations will go above you

11. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

12. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree
Draw siblings next to yourself
Older siblings on left, younger on right
Then draw vertical lines up from each sibling & connect vertical lines with horizontal line (sibship) *half-siblings to be added later

13. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

14. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree
Draw your parents above yourself
Horizontal line connecting parents. Then draw a vertical line from horizontal line to your symbol (if only child) or sibship line
Horizontal line is relationship line. Draw diagonal line through line if divorced. If either parent has children with different partner, draw 2nd relationship line to other partner. Half siblings should have vertical line stemming from the new relationship line

15. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

16. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree
Aunts/Uncles (parent’s siblings) are drawn next to them & connected with sibship line
OK to not include spouses of parents’ siblings to save space. When drawing cousins, connect their line of descent directly to their parent or to parents’ relationship line. Same for nieces & nephews

17. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

18. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree
Draw maternal grandparents above your mother, or your mother’s sibship line. Connect grandparents with relationship line (if applicable) & draw line of descent to your mother or mother’s sibship line
Same for paternal grandparents (only above father’s square)

19. Step 2: Drawing Pedigree

20. Step 3: Record Info on Pedigree
Transfer family history info onto pedigree
Age/BD, date of death, medical conditions
Electronic formatting available/programs

21. Step 3: Putting it all together!

22. My Family Health Portrait
You can create your own personalized pedigree!
Enter your family health history.
Print your family health history to share with family or your health care worker.
Save your family health history so you can update it over time

23. Discussion Questions
Why would a pedigree be useful to physician, nurse or genetic counselor?
What can be determined from the example pedigree?
If you were the physician or genetic counselor, what would you discuss with the family
Should all physicians be required to ask their patients about their family health history?
Why or why not?