Good genes? Bad blood?

This might sound crazy, but on a day when the chips are down, remember this – you are a survivor! As we all are. Through the millennia of human existence there have been families who have not been so fortunate and who have come to a premature end. However, our very existence today is proof that we come from a long line of such survivors.

But what about the genes that you have inherited from these generations before you? It’s probably fair to say that most of us are inheritors of a mixture of more and less helpful genetic  material. It can be interesting to try to spot some common traits that run through your family - this can be handy, for instance indicating that perhaps a lifestyle change could help you avoid a family weakness.

If you don’t know of medical conditions that have affected your ancestors you might be wondering how you can find out clearer details. While patients’ medical notes often do not survive the passage of time, and even where they do are often subject to a 100-year privacy closure period, there are all sorts of other historical records that can reveal medical information. If your ancestor served in the forces, perhaps his service records might shed light. Don’t miss the infirmity column on the census too. And of course death certificates indicate what finally carried someone off.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create a medical family tree, find out the tips, tricks and software that will help you in the August issue of Family Tree.

Read the full story in the August issue of Family Tree, out now in WH Smiths, leading supermarkets and all good newsagents, or you can download our latest issue as a digital edition right now – visit www.pocketmags.com, the App Store, Google Play or Amazon Appstore. Single issues, back issues and subscriptions are available for PC, Mac, eReaders, smartphones and tablets. A free sample is also available for all devices.