DUE DATE: ______________________________
Pedigree Project
Objectives:
 Show your families genetic inheritance of a single trait.
 Your assignment is to construct an accurate pedigree of your family.
 Be able to interpret data and genetic probability using your own family
tree.
 Be able to conduct research on a specific genetic disorder and know the
disorder is passed throughout a family.
Part A: Construction of Your Family Pedigree
Materials: You will need a poster board, ruler, glue, markers, etc.
1) Pick a trait that can be easily seen, i.e. hair curliness, cleft chin,
hitchhikers thumb etc.
a. Use simple dominant, co-dominant, sex-linked or
incomplete dominant traits/disorders.
b. Forbidden: Multiple Alleles (Exception Blood Types) or Polygenic
traits.
c. You CAN NOT use Eye Color, Hair Color, or Height.
2) Trace your family pedigree back to at least your maternal and paternal
grandparents.
a. Under each individual circle or square you must:
i. Give their name, and relation to you, i.e. Aunt Mary.
ii. Give the trait/disorder that they are expressing, i.e.
Hitchhikers Thumb.
iii. Give the alleles of that trait for each family member, i.e. Tt.
3) Make sure you include a good/creative title.
4) Use color throughout the project.
5) Make sure you are using the correct symbols for your pedigree. Look in
your textbook page 315 and/or use the overhead we did together.
6) NO lined or computer generated projects will be accepted! Use Poster
board.
7) How to obtain extra credit:
a. Trace further back in your family tree.
DUE DATE: ______________________________
b. Include pictures of your family (Showing that trait, clearly).
c. Creative presentation (i.e. going above and beyond a neat and tidy
project).
Part B: Research/Inquiry Questions (These must be Typed!):
1) Is the pedigree you made for a dominant or recessive trait (or other)?
EXPLAIN how you know this to be true by doing research in your
textbook and/or a creditable internet source and/or sources. Support
your findings by showing the trait in a punnett square.
2) EXPLAIN how you determine if you are heterozygous or homozygous
dominant for a certain trait? Look to your own family’s pedigree to help
you determine your answer.
3) EXPLAIN the chance you would have at passing the trait you selected
onto your future child or children. You will need to use SEVERAL different
punnett squares to help you prove your point, as you don’t know your
future mates genetic traits.
4) RESEARCH a genetic disorder that is inherited and is not given in your
textbook or the trait you picked to do your family pedigree.
a. Write at least two paragraphs explaining how you can inherit that
trait, what it causes, if there is a cure, etc…this is just the tip of the
“iceberg.”
b. Give good and accurate information. The better the
information/research the more points for you. Do NOT copy and
paste something from the internet, these needs to be in your own
words and from SEVERAL different, credible sources.
You will submit a bibliography of the resources you used for
all of the Part B questions.
DO NOT RUSH THROUGH THIS PROJECT!! It is A LOT of points and
will most likely determine your grade for this marking period.