Genetic Family History / Pedigree

Pedigree Analysis / Genetic Family History

Drawing a family history (pedigree) chart is a helpful shorthand method of in documenting affected relatives, identifying patterns of inheritance in families, and identifying those at risk for genetic conditions. The following resources may be helpful.

Family History Initiative, U.S. Surgeon General, Department of Health and Family Services, My Family Health Portrait (Download) New 2004, includes an online tool, My Family Health Portrait, save information on multiple family members, and draw a family tree. Available as a web-based program to download or print, in English and in Spanish. The web-based tool can be completed on-line with data stored on your private computer. A printable report includes a table of family health history and a drawing of your family tree

Construction of the Pedigree, General Principles of Medical Genetics (Inherited Disorders), Merck Manuel
Does It Run in the Family? A Guide to Family Health History (PDF file), Genetic Alliance, printable guide, to gather, record and understand your family health history Added 2007
Family and Individual Record Charts, Ancestors PBS program
Family Health Tree Guide, Centre for Genetics Education, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia, for professionals, "The Importance of the Family Health Tree' and for consumers, 'The Importance of Your Family Health Information"
Cancer History Guide, Myraid Genetic Laboratories, Inc. Online tool to organize personal and family history of cancer. Data is not saved, so results should be printed
Family History Tools: The Importance of Gathering a Family History, American Medical Association (AMA), includes Prenatal Genetic Screening Questionnaire, Pediatric Clinical Genetics Questionnaire, Adult Family History Form, and Sample Pedigree, completed on-line and print. Data not saved.
Health Family Tree, University of Utah, Utah Department of Health: Paper tool to collect family health history, electronic in future. Calling the Health Resource Line at 1-888-222-2542.
The Heart of Diabetes Family History Tree, American Heart Association (AHA), online, draws family tree, record heart disease and stroke risk factors, including diabetes. Required free registration. Data is encrypted and not accessible to the AHA. Provides ability to send questions to family members about their health conditions through e-card Added 2007
Family Healthware™, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, web-based, collects family health history. Data is saved and stored in a database. Information can be updated as needed. Printable report includes drawing of family tree, familial risk assessment, and personalized prevention recommendations. Currently being evaluated in a clinical trial. Also available for licensure and research studies through genetics@cdc.gov Added 2007
Family History Tool, National Society of Genetic Counselors, family history page with instructions and guidelines, printable Added 2007
Family History Form Draft, (.pdf) Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Health Tree, Norwich Union. Interactive, web-based, record family history. Data not saved, printable report. No pedigree generated. Information about common hereditary conditions & links Added 2007
Importance of Gathering a Family History, American Medical Association, includes tools such as adult family history form, pediatric genetics questionnaire, prenatal genetic screening questionnaire, and sample pedigree
Importance of the Family Health Tree: A Guide for Professional Use
JamesLink: Personalized Cancer Risk Assessment, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Multi Media Design, Center for Knowledge Development, College of Medicine Public Health. Web-based, records personal and family history of cancer. Data not saved. Printed report. Algorithms estimate cancer risk based on patterns of cancer in the family ( high, moderate or average risk). Printable summary includes risk assessment and cancer screening and prevention recommendations
Medical Family Tree, Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation and the Eppley Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center. Online program for a 3 generation family tree to print family tree with table (Macromedia Authorware Web Player needed for drawing). Algorithms to assess hereditary cancer risk Added 2007
MyGenerations, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare. Web-based for personal and family history of cancer, draws annotated family tree, provides cancer risk assessment and information Added 2007
Pedigree Chart, .pdf file, Ancestors PBS program
Pedigree Drawing Programs
The Pedigree: A Basic Guide, by J Jorgenson, FE Yoder, and SD Shapiro, 1980, Grendel Company, PO Box 733, Charleston, South Carolina 29402. Copyrighted by The Dorrington Corporation
Pedigree: Genetic Analysis: Karyotypes and Pedigrees, ThinkQuest
Pedigree Standardization Task Force Recommendations (.pdf),, American Journal of Human Genetics (1995), 56:745-752
The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History. Bennett RL. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999
Recommendations for standardized human pedigree nomenclature. Bennett RL, Steinhaus KA, Uhrich SH, et al. Am J Hum Genet 1995; 56:745-752
Taking a Family History, from "The Genetic Family History in Primary Care" by R Bennett, Genetics Northwest, Vol 10(2 & 3), Dec 1995
Taking Family Histories with Genetics in Mind, FLagay, Virtual Mentor, May 2001 Genethics, Vol 3(5), American Medical Associations
Taking a Family History, Assignment, Medical Genetics, 2001, LSUHSC

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Revised January 23, 2009

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