Free genogram template
Twins Genogram Template
Quick answer
Download the twins genogram template
- Blank template (PDF)US Letter, print and fill in by hand
- Editable PowerPoint (.pptx)Every symbol and line is a shape; opens in Google Slides and Keynote
- Filled example + blank (PDF)Two pages: the example with its key, then the blank
- High-resolution example (PNG)2400 px wide, free to reuse with credit
- Vector blank (SVG)Edit in Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma or Canva
When to use a twins genogram template
Use this template whenever a family includes twins. Twin notation is one of the symbols people most often get wrong: two separate child lines make twins look like ordinary siblings born at different times. Here both kinds of twin are drawn the standard way, from one point on the sibling line, with the bar that marks identical twins, so you can copy the right symbol rather than invent one.
Twins also matter clinically and medically. Identical twins share their genes, which changes how a reader interprets an inherited condition; the loss of one twin in pregnancy or infancy shapes the surviving twin; and twins often hold a special position in family triangles. Note zygosity if known, and whether the twins were conceived with fertility treatment.
For a family with several sets of twins across generations, or one where the twin relationship is the presenting issue, start from the completed example. For a straightforward three-generation family with no twins, the 3 Generation Genogram Template is simpler.
The blank template and a filled-in example
Open this example in GenogramAI to start from the finished layout: it copies into your account (the Free plan holds 2 genograms) and every person, line and condition stays editable.
How to fill in a twins genogram template
- 1
Draw the sibling line
Hang the siblings from the parents’ couple line in birth order. - 2
Draw the twins from one point
Start both twins’ lines from a single point on the sibling line. - 3
Mark identical twins
Add a short bar between the two lines for identical twins; leave it off for fraternal twins. - 4
Add dates and history
Write birth years, any death, and note IVF or other context where relevant.
Symbols this template uses
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two child lines from one point | Fraternal (dizygotic) twins. |
| Two child lines from one point joined by a bar | Identical (monozygotic) twins. |
| Twin pair in birth order | Twins take one position among their siblings, ordered left to right by birth. |
| X through one twin | A twin who has died, with dates. Small filled symbols show a pregnancy loss. |
| Square / circle | Male / female; boy-girl twins are always fraternal. |
| Double outline | The index person, who may be one of the twins. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Drawing twins with two separate child lines, which makes them look born at different times.
- Adding the identical-twin bar to a boy-girl pair. Boy-girl twins are always fraternal.
- Placing the twins outside birth order. The pair sits where their birth falls among the siblings.
- Leaving a twin who died at birth off the chart. They change the surviving twin’s history.
Who uses this template?
Genetic counselors, family therapists, perinatal and pediatric clinicians, students learning notation, and families with twins.
Common uses
- Genetic counseling where zygosity affects risk
- Grief work with a surviving twin
- Family therapy where twins share a role in a triangle
- Fertility treatment and multiple births in the family history
- Teaching twin notation
What the template covers
- A single child, identical twins and fraternal twins in one sibship
- Both grandparent couples
- Key with both twin symbols
- Notes lines for zygosity and birth history
- Editable PowerPoint and SVG versions
What is free?
Free and paid, plainly
Frequently asked questions
How are twins shown on a genogram?
Two child lines that start from the same point on the sibling line. For identical twins a short horizontal bar joins the two lines; fraternal twins have no bar.
What is the difference between identical and fraternal twins on a genogram?
Only the bar between the twins’ lines. Identical (monozygotic) twins get the bar because they share their genes; fraternal (dizygotic) twins do not.
How do you show triplets?
Three child lines from one point. Mark any identical pair within them with a bar between those two lines.
How do you show a twin who died?
Draw the twin in the pair with an X through the symbol and the dates. For a loss in pregnancy, use the pregnancy-loss symbol in the twin position.
Further Reading
- McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R., & Petry, S. — Genograms: Assessment and Treatment (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company, 2020
- Bennett, R.L., French, K.S., Resta, R.G., & Doyle, D.L. — Recommendations for Standardized Human Pedigree Nomenclature. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 17(5), 424-433, 2008