Lab Report

Complete this Lab Report and save it with your course materials.

Lesson 11.1 – Investigate Human Pedigrees

***You will submit this Lab Report as part of Project 2. It is worth a possible 20 points. See
Project 2 for further instructions

Follow the directions given on page 300 of your textbook to complete this MiniLab to investigate
human pedigrees. Read the information provided in the MiniLab in your textbook and complete the
following:

1. Construct a pedigree using the appropriate symbols and format as described in your textbook.

2. In what ways do pedigrees simplify the analysis of inheritance?

In genetics, a pedigree is a diagram of a family tree showing the relationships between

individuals together with relevant facts about their medical histories. A pedigree analysis is the
interpretation of these data that allows a better understanding of the transmission of genes
within the family. Usually, at least one member of the family has a genetic disease, and by

Lab Report 1 SCIH 025

examining the pedigree, clues to the mode of inheritance of the disorder and the potential risk
to other family members can be obtained.
Pedigree analysis can also allow estimation of gene penetrance and gene expressivity.
Penetrance is defined as the probability that a disease sate will manifest in an individual who
carries an allele cusing the disease is present. For example, if one-half of all individuals who
carry a dominant allele eventually manifest the associated disease, the allele has 50%
penetrance. Expressivity describes the range of symptoms and degree of sevety associated with
different disease states.

Source:
Pedigree Analysis - Line, Disease, Family, and Generation - JRank
Articles http://science.jrank.org/pages/5076/Pedigree-
Analysis.html#ixzz3BFEQGFtw

3. Using this lab as a frame of reference, how can you put into practical use your understanding of
construction and analyzing human pedigrees?

A pedigree chart is used to show your family tree of traits. An example is if a diagram shows
your mom who had brown hair and your dad has red hair and then it shows all of the children
they had and shows what color hair they had. The probability of most of the kids or all of the
kids having brown hair is much higher than them having red hair. So basically, the pedigree
chart can help me trace some traits that are in my family line. I may be able to answer some
questions related to genetics.

Lab Report 2 SCIH 025