Pedigree

A pedigree is the ancestry record of an assertion or a declaration, including its source (eg, a particular person) and the time when it was made. In the case of an assertion, the pedigree may also contain such other elements as certifications, justifications, disclaimers, and references. For example, the pedigree of a probability distribution (an assertion) consists of the name of the individual from whom the distribution was obtained, the time when it was obtained, and (possibly) a reference to any data used in the assessment. A pedigree may be either pure (when its source is a single individual) or mixed (when it is derived from statements made by several individuals). An assertion or a declaration is a mongrel when its pedigree is unknown or so mixed that its source is untraceable.