"Pedigree" - what is it, definition of the term
Pedigree is a documented lineage of an individual animal, usually displayed as a chart that traces ancestors through successive generations, indicating breed, genetic traits, and any recorded health or experimental data; for laboratory rodents such as rats and mice, these records ensure genetic consistency, enable selection of specific phenotypes, and support reproducibility of scientific research.
Detailed information
The term refers to a documented record of an individual’s ancestry, typically presented as a family tree that traces parental and grand‑parental relationships. In the context of laboratory rodents such as rats and mice, this record serves as the primary tool for monitoring genetic integrity, preventing inbreeding, and ensuring reproducibility of experimental results.
A complete record includes the following elements:
- Unique identifier for each animal (e.g., ear tag number, barcode).
- Names or IDs of the sire and dam.
- Dates of birth and weaning.
- Strain or stock designation.
- Genetic modifications, if any (knock‑out, transgenic insertions, CRISPR edits).
- Health status and any observed phenotypic traits.
- Generation number relative to the original founder line.
These data are entered into a centralized database, enabling rapid retrieval of an animal’s full lineage. Software platforms often provide automated pedigree analysis, flagging potential close‑kin matings and calculating coefficients of relationship.
Genetic management relies on several principles:
- Outbreeding – introducing unrelated individuals to reduce homozygosity.
- Backcrossing – mating hybrids to a recurrent parent to stabilize a desired genotype.
- Sibling avoidance – tracking relationships to prevent matings between full‑siblings or parent‑offspring pairs.
Regulatory guidelines for biomedical research require documentation of lineage to verify strain authenticity and to satisfy animal welfare standards. Audits typically examine the completeness of records, the consistency of naming conventions, and the traceability of any genetic alterations.
Effective use of these records demands routine verification of data entry, periodic review of breeding strategies, and integration with phenotypic databases. When maintained correctly, the ancestral chart provides a reliable foundation for reproducible science and ethical animal management.