Constructing a Pedigree
Name____________________________________
Hour ___
Story #1.
My name is Steve Thacker. I’m 17 years old. I’d like
to tell about an experience I had that taught me some important
lessons about genetics. For years, my dad, John Thacker (age
49) has been telling me stories about his family - his father and
mother, his two sisters, and his three brothers. Our family
moved from his hometown in Virginia to Minnesota when I was
only a year old, so I have never really known the people he
spoke about.
Last summer, I got a chance to learn more about my
dad’s side of the family. The Thackers decided to have a family
reunion in our old home town of Richmond. Dad could hardly
wait to get back and see his family again for the first time in
over 15 years. My mother, Marie (age 45) is from the same
town, and she was eager to see her own family again, as well as
my dad’s. My 12-year-old identical twin sisters, Laura, and
Mary, and my 9-year-old brother Tom were also excited about
the trip to Virginia.
After a two day, 800+ mile trip we drove straight to
Grandpa and Grandma Thacker’s house on Pine Street. After a
series of introductions to all my cousins, uncles, and aunts (with

all that kissing and hugging jazz), I was able to step back and
take a better look at my relatives. It was obvious that we were
all related. We shared many physical traits in common.
Then I noticed Grandpa Thacker’s hands. I thought my
Dad had been joking when he used to say that “Gramps” had
two little fingers on each hand. But sure enough, it was true. I
then checked out Aunt Shirley (age 40), Uncle Pat (age 30), and
Uncle Dave (age 47). Again Dad was right. They too have
extra little fingers. Aunt Shirley’s daughter, Sue (age 14)
does not have the extra digits. Uncle Pat has three girls and a
boy. The oldest girl, Maureen (age 15), and her brother, Mike
(age 12) have the extra fingers. The middle girls, Amie (age 14)
and Anne (age 13) are alright. Uncle Dave and his wife Lucy
(age 46 ) have a son, Dan, (age 10) who does not have the extra
digits and a daughter, Karen (age 12) who does. Dad’s sister
Betty (age 42) and her son, Jim (age 16) do not have a sixth
finger. Dad’s other brother Gary (age 43) and his wife Melinda
(age 39) and their two daughters, Patty (age 15) and Barbara
(age 11) also do not have the sixth finger. Of course, nobody in
my immediate family has been affected by this finger variation.
Finish the pedigree started below. Include all blood relatives and in-laws (even if not mentioned directly). Show all generations.
Use correct genetic symbols and darken in those affected. Also label the 1 st names of all the persons mentioned.
Grandpa
Grandma
I.
1
2

How many cousins does Steve have? ________ Is this condition a dominant or recessive trait? Explain.

Which individuals are you sure are carriers?___________________________________________________________________

Who may or may not be carriers? __________________How would you know for sure? _______________________________
Story # 2
Olle and Lena immigrated from Norway to Minnesota in 1875. They farmed wheat and had two healthy, fair-skinned, blondhaired, blue-eyed children - Carl and Anna. Carl married Molly, but they had three miscarriages and were childless. Anna married a
strong Swede named Einer and they had three children, Elmer, Hazel, and Harriet. Elmer and Hazel lacked pigment in their hair and
skin. They were diagnosed to have albinism.. Elmer and Hazel never married and stayed on the farm to help their aging parents.
Harriet left home at 21 and married an olive-skinned, dark, wavy-haired lad named Vitorrio. They had a healthy son, George, who
was Olle and Lena’s delight until they both died at ages 98 and 95 respectively.

On the back construct this family pedigree and show all generations. Indicate the carriers for albinism and who might be a
carrier. Again, be sure to label the persons’ names.
Story #2 pedigree here :
Story #3
Kathleen (age 32) and Ken (age 31) are married. Kathleen’s mother, Betty (age 60) and Ken’s father, Ed (age 63), are the
children of Ted and Agnes, both deceased. Ted and Agnes had two other children, Dorothy (age 65) and James (age 58). Betty’s
husband is named Randy (age 61). Ed’s wife, Jennifer, died at the age of 59. Ken has a 34-year-old sister, Marjorie. Kathleen has a
27-year-old sister, named Judy. Kathleen and Ken have three children: Fay (age 8), Kerry (age 6), and Darrell (age 3). Show all
generations and label all individuals.
Story #4
Finish this story and then construct the pedigree:
“Tupac and Shawna were high school sweet-hearts who
got married at 18. They had two children within one year.
Tupac lost his job pumping gas and became depressed. The
young couple had trouble communicating and their relationship
ended in a divorce shortly after the birth of their second child.
Tupac went back to New York while Shawna left her children
with her own mother, Millie, while she went back to finish her
GED. While in night school, Shawna….”
Pedigree