Your family pedigree

Question 1

the pedigree

Answer 1

-drawing of a family tree
-used by genetic counselors and other medical professionals to assess families and try to spot patterns or indications which may be helpful in dx or managing an individuals health
-uses specific symbols and rules so no matter who draws it anyone can read and understand it

Question 2

know the pedigree symbols

Answer 2

!

Question 3

creating pedigree steps

Answer 3

-1. talk to your family- ask questions, write down, what they say, collect all information possible
-2. draw a basic outline of your family tree using pedigree symbols
-3. record the information you gathered on the drawing to complete the pedigree

Question 4

gathering information

Answer 4

-write a list of all your family members including
-parents
-brothers and sisters (including halF siblings)
-children
-grandparents
-aunts and uncles
-cousins
- nieces and nephews
-DONT FORGET YOUSELF
-next to each family members name- write down everything you know about their health and medical hx
-if you can later ask family members questions and find out as much information as possible
-information about health is sensitive topic -> talk to family members and be respectful

Question 5

if you are adopted

Answer 5

-collect information on either or both your adopted and birth families
-pedigree of adopted family will not give you much information about your own genetic make up but would tell you a lot about family you are part of
-pedigree of your birth family will tell you more about your personal genetic hx, but it may be more difficult to learn details

Question 6

included information

Answer 6

-age or date of birth
-date of death for family members who have passes away
-height and weight (optional)
-medical problems-> write if they smoked, diet, or exercise if relevant
-date of death for family members who have passes away
-how old they were when diagnosed
-ethnic backgrounds

Question 7

medical conditions like

Answer 7

-cancer
-heart disease
-diabetes
-asthma
-mental illness
-high blood pressure
-stroke
-kidney disease
-birth defects
-learning problems or autism
-vision or hearing loss at a young age
-known genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease

Question 8

drawing

Answer 8

-start with yourself (or patient)
-place yourself towards the bottom or middle
-leave space above for older generations
-leave space below for your symbol for your information

Question 9

siblings

Answer 9

-draw you brothers and sisters next to yourself
-older siblings go on left, younger siblings on right
-draw vertical lines up from each sibling on your right
-draw vertical lines up from each sibling and connect the vertical lines with horizontal line
-represents sibship
-half siblings should be added later

Question 10

parents

Answer 10

-draw parents above yourself
-draw horizontal line connecting your parents
-draw vertical line from horizontal line to your symbol or the sibship line
-horizontal line is a relationship line
-if biological parents are divorced or not together -> draw diagonal line through the horizontal line
-if parent shave children with different partner draw a second relationship line to the other partner
-half siblings from relationship should have vertical line stemming from the new relationship line

Question 11

aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews

Answer 11

-your parents siblings are drawn next to them and connected with sibship line
-try to put them in age order
-you may choose to not draw spouses to save space
-when drawing cousins connect their line of descent directly to their parents or to their parents relationship line
-smae concept when drawing the children of you siblings (nieces and nephews)

Question 12

grandparents

Answer 12

-draw maternal grandparents above your mother, or your mothers sibship line
-connect them with relationship line (if applicable) and draw a line of descent to your mother or mothers sibship line
-draw paternal grandparents above your father or your fathers sibship line
-connect them with a relationship line (if applicable) and draw a line of descent to your father or fathers sibship line

Question 13

what to do with your pedigree

Answer 13

-Save it, Clean it up, add to it, ask your parents about corrections. Have a complete and accurate pedigree on hand
-Store your pedigree in a safe place. Every couple of years, take it out and update it as necessary.
-Give a copy to your physician. It might come in handy to have this information in your medical chart someday in the future.
-If there is something on your pedigree which concerns you, take it to a medical professional or genetic specialist for their assessment.