slektskapsgrad

Slektskapsgrad, or degree of kinship, describes how closely two people are related through blood. It is defined by the generation distance between two individuals in the family tree, typically measured along the shortest line that connects them through a common ancestor. The smaller the degree, the closer the relationship. In common usage, 1st degree relatives include parents, children, and siblings. 2nd degree relatives include grandparents and grandchildren, as well as avuncular relationships (aunts and uncles) and their nieces and nephews. 3rd degree relatives include first cousins. More distant connections, such as second cousins, are typically described as 4th degree or higher, and terms like once removed or twice removed specify additional generational steps.

Slektskapsgrad is relevant in medicine, genetics, and law because the degree of relatedness affects inherited risk of genetic conditions, as well as eligibility for certain familial rights or restrictions in some jurisdictions. Assessments may use the coefficient of relationship or kinship coefficient, which quantify the proportion of genes shared by two individuals.

In practice, the concept varies somewhat by country and context; some systems differentiate between full and half-siblings or consider step-relations differently. The term remains a useful shorthand for describing familial closeness in genealogy and related disciplines.