FAMILY PEDIGREES PROJECT
DUE FRIDAY MARCH. 6TH
A. Cover page – title, name, class period, due date…decorate, be creative!
REMEMBER – NEATNESS COUNTS
B. Family History – this section needs to be 2 pages typed, proof read, double spaced, and error free. Use 1”
margins, 12-point font, Times New Roman style print. It should tell about you and your family background. Here
are some suggestions if you aren’t sure what to include: where are you and your parents from? How long have you
lived in Chicago or IL or the US or your neighborhood or whatever? Are there traditions, professions, talents,
habits, traits, personalities, etc. that you’d like to talk about? Where and how did your parent’s meet or your
grandparents? Any interesting stories about your birth? What you write about is up to you. These are just some
suggestions. BE FUN AND INTERESTING! DON’T BORE ME! You don’t need to tell any family secrets or discuss
issues you aren’t comfortable with. Interviewing family members can be interesting and sometimes fun. You learn
things you never knew.
C. Data Table #1, 2, and 3 (show all three data tables with alleles defined and what each family member’s
genotype is. Each table should also have a title and number).
D. Pedigree #1
E. Pedigree #2
F. Pedigree #3
Each pedigree should show at least 3 generations made of at least 12 individuals. You aren’t required to show
every cousin, great aunt, half-brother, etc. In each pedigree you must choose a trait that affects some members of
your family and not others. Each generation should be marked with roman numerals on the left of your tree and
all individuals of that generation should be on the same horizontal level. Use a ruler!! Use a square and round
object to draw the people. Freehand drawn trees are unacceptable. Final pedigrees should be in ink (although I
strongly suggest doing it in pencil first). For each individual on your chart, you need to show the known alleles for
the trait you selected. If a chosen trait is recessive then you know the person must be homozygous recessive (ex. a
a). Those are the easy ones. And if they are a parent, you know that each child will get at least one recessive allele
from that parent. Also, you know that individual got a recessive allele from each of their own parents. If an
individual does not have the recessive trait, you must determine to the best of your ability if they are homozygous
dominant (AA) or heterozygous (Aa) and therefore a carrier. Most times you will be able to figure it out by looking
at the parents or the children of the individual in question. If you cannot determine the second allele you will
leave a ? in place of the allele. BE CAREFUL! Leaving a question mark for the second allele of a person when the
genotype could have been determined will lower your grade. Make sure there is no way to figure it out. On the
other hand, don’t make up information that there is no way of knowing. Show where you are on the tree and
highlight the lines connecting your parents and siblings. Make sure to include the title or names for each family
member.
Each pedigree should have a title on the top of the page and allele data for each individual. Make the trait being
expressed shade in. This means you have to identify homozygous dominant, heterozygous dominant, recessive,
and carriers too. (Half shaded ONLY for sex-linked traits). Show a key for the trait and any symbols being used.
DO RESEARCH ON AUTOSOMAL AND SEX-LINKED TRAITS. (Make sure it is COMPLETE DOMINANCE and is single
gene controlled.)
G. Conclusion – Wrap up the project. What did you learn about genetics, your family, pedigrees, phenotypes,
etc.? What was difficult? Did you enjoy the project? Why or why not? The conclusion should be at least a half
page typed.
Everything but the pedigree pages need to be typed!
FAMILY PEDIGREE RUBRIC
Beginning
THINGS TO INCLUDE
1
FAMILY DATA &
RUBRIC SHEET
Family Data OR
Grading Sheet
not attached.
PEDIGREE #1
Missing
PEDIGREE #2
Missing
PEDIGREE #3
Missing
Developing
Family Data is
not completely
Filled out
missing 50%
OR/AND
Family Data is
not typed
Only (1)
generation is
present.
Only (1)
generation is
present.
Only (1)
generation is
present.
ALL Keys are
missing.
PEDIGREE
GENOTYPES
Genotypes are
not listed.
Only some of the
relative’s
genotypes are
listed. 50%
missing or
incorrect
PROFESSIONAL
PRODUCT
Tree is very
difficult to read
and/or
interpret. All
papers
Wrinkled,
Smudged.
Not typed
Family History &
Conclusion
(2)
One or both are
missing, not
typed.
Exceeds
Expectations
3
4
Family Data is
not completely
Filled out
missing 25%.
Family Data AND
Grading Sheet are
Completed and
attached to the
Report.
Only (2)
generations are
present.
Only (2)
generations are
present.
Only (2)
generations are
present.
At least (3)
generations are
present.
2
Some keys are
present, but one
or more are
missing.
PEDIGREE KEYS
Meets
Expectations
Keys are present,
but some
information
requested is
missing.
Only some of the
relative’s
genotypes are
listed. 25%
missing or
incorrect
At least (3)
generations are
present.
At least (3)
generations are
present.
Keys are present
and includes all
information
requested.
All members of the
family tree have
genotypes listed.
All Trees are
difficult to
interpret.
Appears
somewhat rushed
or sloppy.
One Tree is
somewhat
difficult to
interpret.
Appears
somewhat rushed
or sloppy.
Tree is easy to read
and key is easy to
interpret. Project is
neat and clear and
colored.
(4)
Essays are
incomplete or
unclear, parts
missing, more
than two
grammar mistakes
(6)
Essays are
somewhat clear.
Two or fewer
grammar
mistakes.
(8)
Essays are very
clear and no
grammar mistakes.
TOTAL: 36 * 2 = 72_____/72