pedigree

Meaning of pedigree: A pedigree is a diagram mapping family relationships across generations, often used to trace the pattern of an inherited condition.

Definition of pedigree

A pedigree is a diagram that maps the relationships among members of a family across multiple generations, using a standard set of symbols to represent individuals, their sex, and their relationships to one another.

In medicine and genetics, a pedigree is often constructed to trace how a particular trait or disease appears across a family, showing which relatives are affected and which are not, which can help suggest whether a condition follows a recognizable pattern of inheritance.

A carefully constructed pedigree can help identify whether a condition is likely to be inherited in a dominant, recessive, or sex linked pattern, information that can inform discussions about the likelihood of the condition appearing in other family members, though a pedigree alone cannot confirm a genetic diagnosis without further testing.