© 2009 NHS National Genetics Education and Development CentreGenetics and Genomics for Healthcare Taking a family history

© 2009 NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre

Genetics and Genomics for Healthcarewww.geneticseducation.nhs.uk

Taking a family history

This PowerPoint file contains a number of slides that may be useful for teaching of genetics concepts.

You may use these slides and their contents for non-commercial educational purposes.



Drawing a family pedigree

Build up the tree from the "bottom"starting with affected child and siblings.Record names, dates of birth.

I:3Norman

Pugh

I:4Elsie

II:3HowardPugh

II:4Judy

III:4Duncan

III:5Mark

II:2Judith

21/2/1951

III:1Kirsty

16/3/1980

III:2Stephen

20/3/1982

III:3Richard

5/8/1984

III:1Kirsty

16/3/1980

III:2Stephen

20/3/1982

III:3Richard

5/8/1984

Choose one parent.Ask about sibs and their children, then

parents.



Add information on the other side of the family

I:1Arthur Smith

18/3/1918

I:2Elizabeth

27/6/1918

II:1Peter Smith

1/10/1950

I:3Norman

Pugh

I:4Elsie

II:3Howard Pugh

II:4Judy

III:4Duncan

III:5Mark

III:1Kirsty

16/3/1980

III:2Stephen

20/3/1982

III:3Richard

5/8/1984

II:2Judith

21/2/1951

Colour in the symbol if the

personis affected

Put a sloping line through the symbol(from the bottom left hand corner) if the person has died

Record names, dates of birth and maiden names

Ask for miscarriages, stillbirths or deathsin each partnership

Use clear symbols: circles for femalessquares for males



“May I ask: have you had any children with other partners?”

I:1ArthurSmith

18/3/1918

I:2Elizabeth

27/6/1918

II:2PeterSmith

1/10/1950

II:3Judith

21/2/1951

I:3Norman

Pugh

I:4Elsie

II:4Howard

Pugh

II:5Judy

III:5Duncan

III:6Mark

III:2Kirsty

16/3/1980

III:3Stephen

20/3/1982

III:4Richard

5/8/1984

II:1Ann

Smith3/9/1953

III:1JulianSmith

14/11/1969



Other pedigree symbols

SB

Unaffectedperson whosesex is unknown

Twins:identical;non-identical

consanguineous

Double line joinsunion of

couple

Stillborn babyof unknownsex

Spontaneousabortion

Therapeuticabortion

Affected male Unaffected female who has died

Affected female



Drawing a family pedigree

• Ask about consanguinity:-“Are you and your partner related?”“Are there any surnames in common?”

• Date and sign the pedigree.

• For a known diagnosis (e.g. autosomal recessive)it may not be necessary to collect as much detail.

• Record at least basic information on bothsides of the family even if a disorder issegregating on only one side.

Documents

© 2009 NHS National Genetics Education and Development CentreGenetics and Genomics for Healthcare Taking a family history