What is the term for a graphic representation of family history used to study inheritance patterns?

The term that accurately describes a graphic representation of family history used to study inheritance patterns is a pedigree chart. A pedigree chart is specifically designed to illustrate the hereditary traits and genetic relationships within a family, often highlighting the presence and transmission of certain genetic conditions or traits across generations.

This tool allows geneticists and researchers to visualize how traits are passed from parents to offspring, making it an essential resource in fields such as genetics, medicine, and anthropology. Pedigree charts typically use standardized symbols to represent individuals and their relationships, which aids in clearly conveying complex genetic information.

While a family tree may appear similar, it generally focuses more on lineage and ancestry rather than specifically analyzing genetic traits. A genogram, although it includes relationships and medical histories, serves a broader purpose in capturing social and psychological aspects of family dynamics. A lineage graph, while it might convey familial relationships, is not a commonly accepted term in genetics and does not emphasize the genetic traits and their inheritance as effectively as a pedigree chart does.