ped_draw

ped_draw visualizes textual PED files as graphical pedigrees to convey relatedness, sex, and affected status across complex multi-generational family structures.

Key Features:

• Pedigree visualization: Transforms textual pedigree data into connected-node graphical representations that depict family relationships across generations.
• PED file input: Processes pedigree data in standard ped file format and accepts input from a specified file or standard input (stdin).
• Graphviz rendering: Uses Graphviz to convert pedigree structures into graph layouts with descriptive node shapes and shading.
• Dot file generation: Produces intermediate DOT-format files suitable for downstream rendering and customization.
• Output formats: Renders images in PNG, SVG, PDF, and PS formats via Graphviz.
• Symbolic encoding: Represents biological attributes such as sex and affected status using standardized shapes and shading.
• Standards compliance: Adheres to accepted conventions for visual pedigree depiction to maintain consistent and accurate representations.

Scientific Applications:

• Family structure interpretation: Enables visual recognition of complex familial relationships and multi-generational relatedness patterns.
• Phenotype and sex annotation: Conveys affected status and sex across samples to support interpretation of inheritance patterns.
• Standardized communication: Produces consistent pedigree diagrams that facilitate comparison and communication of family-based study results.

Methodology:

Converts PED-format files into Graphviz DOT files and uses Graphviz to render connected nodes with descriptive shapes and shading; accepts input from file or stdin and outputs PNG, SVG, PDF, and PS.