pedigree /ped″əgrē/ [Fr, pied de grue, crane’s foot pattern] , 1. line of descent; lineage; ancestry. 2. a chart that shows the genetic makeup of a person’s ancestors, used in the mendelian analysis of an inherited characteristic or disease in a particular family. It typically uses squares to represent males and circles to represent females. The figures may be unshaded, shaded, or partially shaded to designate normal individuals, those affected by the disease or trait, and those who are carriers. The generations are numbered with roman numerals at the left, with the most recent at the bottom, and members within each generation are designated by arabic numerals from left to right according to age, with the oldest at the left. The inquiry begins with the siblings of the affected person and proceeds to the parents and grandparents and any of their immediate relatives. See also Punnett square.
