We describe the development of a novel tool that facilitates the design and visualization of pedigrees using a special Internet application. The tool is programmed in Java, using a PHP script as an interface. This web-based tool is used to generate, edit, and/or view pedigrees. The advantage of our novel tool is that it is based on a notation that allows the representation of any given number of generations, family members per generation, and multiple clinical or genetic features of an individual family member. In addition, the notation allows us to minimize the storage space by 100% to 500% and to standardize the presentation of family trees and segregation analysis for inheritance of mendelian disorders or even complex traits. This pedigree tool has been implemented with a database of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) mutations (http://www.uni-leipzig.de/innere/tshr/).
Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.