Pedigree Chart

Pedigree tool visually depicts familial relationships and diseases using standardized symbols [1]. Commonly called as family tree, pedigree chart is an integral part of history taking, and the analysis provides information on various disorders running in the family and deciphers the inheritance pattern, thereby helping strategize genetic testing approach and understand the social dynamics of the family. Understanding genetic predispositions often has significant implications both for the individual who seeks care and for their family members at risk. Pedigree tree can at times help distinguish genetic disorders from acquired risk factors including common environmental exposures. This section provides basic knowledge for creating medical pedigrees, a needed skill in traditional clinical practice.