What is the purpose of a pedigree chart?

A pedigree chart is specifically designed to track genetic traits and biological relationships within a family over several generations. It provides a visual representation of family lineage, showing how traits may be passed from one generation to the next. This enables geneticists and researchers to identify patterns of inheritance, such as autosomal dominant or recessive traits, and can help in predicting the likelihood of certain traits appearing in future generations.

Unlike an illustration of evolutionary history, which focuses on how species have evolved over time, or a genome mapping, which involves detailed analysis of an entire organism's DNA sequence, a pedigree chart is concerned solely with familial relationships and the inheritance of specific traits. Additionally, while it could highlight inherited conditions, it does not depict somatic mutations, which arise in non-germinal tissues and cannot be passed down to offspring. Thus, the main function of a pedigree chart is clearly centered around tracking genetic traits and relationships within families.