PedigreeOnline: a new web server for two-way interactive pedigree drawing

Abstract Pedigree drawing is of special importance for genetic counseling and research on documenting families with inherited disease. Current pedigree-drawing tools fall into two types: those build pedigree diagrams from input family data, and those provide a graphical interface to draw pedigree directly. Here we merge the two types of programs into one, and release a brand new pedigree-drawing web server, PedigreeOnline. Through introducing a novel pedigree-like-layout (PLL) family data format and taking advantage of HTML5 canvas element in development, this program is able to build two-way interactive connections between family data and graphical interface. Users can work on and switch easily between the graphical interface and the family data window. Currently this web server is compatible with Linkage data format and comma-separated value (CSV) data format. These features make PedigreeOnline a pedigree-drawing tool with outstanding user-friendliness and flexibility. PedigreeOnline is freely accessible for everyone at: http://www.ig.zju.edu.cn/PedigreeOnline/