Pedigrees
A diagram shows the ancestral relationships and transmission of genetic traits over several generations in a family; square symbols are almost always used to represent males, whilst circles are used for females
Pedigrees are used to help detect many different genetic diseases.
A pedigree can also be used to help determine the chances for a parent to produce an offspring with a specific trait.
Four different traits can be identified by pedigree chart analysis: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, x- linked, or y-linked.