A Pedigree Tracing Program for Use with dBASE III and dBASE IV Software

Abstract

Breeding programs maintain extensive pedigree files for genetic studies, determination of coancestry coefficients, planning crosses, and quick reference (Barr, 1983; Bell et al., 1980; Byrne, 1989; Scorza et al., 1985). This information is also used to trace pedigrees and produce graphic lineages. The tracing of a pedigree from a large file is often done by hand or with a mainframe computer (Bell et al., 1980; Scorza et al., 1985). The process, although not complex, can be cumbersome and inconvenient. There is a trend now to use microcomputers with large-capacity storage media (e.g., hard disks) that can store extensive data files. With them, researchers have the advantage of being able to interact with the computer in a more convenient and efficient manner using sophisticated, menu-driven software packages. Researchers at the Stonefruit Breeding Program, Texas A&M Univ., have developed a computer program named “PED” in the dBASE III/dBASE IV (Ashton-Tate Corp., Torrance, Calif.) programming language that searches a dBASE pedigree data file and quickly produces a four-generation graphic family tree (Fig. 1) on the screen or for printing (Liskin, 1986). Pedigree data are