Genogram vs Pedigree Chart:
Key Differences Explained
Both map family information across generations, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. Pedigree charts track genetic inheritance; genograms map family dynamics and relationships.
What is a Pedigree Chart?
A pedigree chart is a diagram used in genetics to trace the inheritance of a specific trait or genetic condition through a family. Standardized by the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), pedigree charts show whether individuals are affected, carriers, or unaffected for a particular condition.
Pedigree charts help geneticists determine inheritance patterns: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, X-linked recessive, or mitochondrial. They are essential tools in genetic counseling and clinical genetics.
- Tracks one specific genetic trait or condition
- Shows affected, carrier, and unaffected individuals
- Identifies inheritance pattern (dominant, recessive, X-linked)
- Uses standardized NSGC pedigree notation
- Focuses strictly on biological/genetic information
- Essential for genetic risk assessment
What is a Genogram?
A genogram is a graphic representation of a family system that maps relationships, medical history, emotional patterns, and behavioral dynamics across multiple generations. Developed by Murray Bowen and standardized by Monica McGoldrick, genograms are the primary assessment tool in family therapy and social work.
Unlike pedigree charts, genograms capture the full complexity of family life: emotional bonds (close, hostile, enmeshed), mental health patterns, substance abuse, divorces, cutoffs, and significant life events.
- Maps emotional relationships across generations
- Tracks multiple medical conditions simultaneously
- Shows behavioral patterns (substance abuse, occupation)
- Includes psychosocial factors and life events
- Uses McGoldrick standardized notation
- Essential for holistic family assessment
Key Differences: Genogram vs Pedigree Chart
A detailed feature-by-feature comparison across 12 dimensions
| Feature | Pedigree Chart | Genogram |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Track inheritance of a specific genetic trait | Map family dynamics, relationships, and patterns |
| Scope of Information | Single trait or condition per chart | Holistic: emotional, medical, behavioral, social |
| Standardized By | NSGC (National Society of Genetic Counselors) | McGoldrick, Gerson & Petry |
| Basic Symbols | Squares, circles, filled/half-filled for trait status | Squares, circles, plus 48 relationship line types |
| Relationship Lines | Biological connections only (mating, offspring) | Structural + emotional (close, hostile, cutoff, etc.) |
| Medical Information | One condition tracked in detail (carriers, affected) | Multiple conditions tracked simultaneously |
| Emotional Data | Not included | Central feature (24 emotional relationship types) |
| Behavioral Patterns | Not included | Substance abuse, occupations, education, etc. |
| Typical Generations | 3-5+ generations for trait tracking | Typically 3 generations |
| Primary Users | Genetic counselors, medical geneticists, researchers | Therapists, social workers, counselors, nurses |
| Clinical Setting | Genetics clinic, research lab | Therapy office, hospital, social services |
| Software | Progeny, Cyrillic, HaploPainter | GenogramAI, GenoPro, manual drawing |
When to Use Each Tool
Choose the right tool based on your clinical or research purpose
Use a Pedigree Chart When:
- Genetic counseling sessions to assess inherited risk
- Identifying carriers of autosomal recessive conditions
- Determining if a condition follows Mendelian inheritance
- Research on single-gene disorders (cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, etc.)
- Carrier identification for family planning
- Pharmacogenomics (drug response patterns in families)
Use a Genogram When:
- Family therapy to understand relationship dynamics
- Social work assessment of family systems
- Nursing family health history intake
- Couples counseling to explore family-of-origin patterns
- Substance abuse treatment to identify intergenerational patterns
- Child welfare assessment and case documentation
Can You Combine Genograms and Pedigree Charts?
Yes. Medical genograms effectively bridge both tools. They incorporate pedigree-like genetic information (tracking specific conditions across generations) while also capturing the emotional and psychosocial data that genograms are known for.
In practice, a genetic counselor might create a focused pedigree chart for a specific condition, while a family therapist on the same case creates a genogram showing how the diagnosis affects family relationships and dynamics. The two tools complement each other for holistic patient care.
Learn about medical genogramsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a genogram and a pedigree chart?
Do genetic counselors use genograms or pedigree charts?
Can a genogram replace a pedigree chart?
What symbols are different between genograms and pedigrees?
Is a medical genogram the same as a pedigree chart?
Which tool should social work students learn: genograms or pedigree charts?
Ready to Create a Genogram?
GenogramAI makes it easy to create professional genograms with AI assistance. 48 relationship types, medical tracking, and McGoldrick standard notation.