diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 7c44bb9..5a26e13 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ export(relatedness)
 export(repairSex)
 export(resample)
 export(simulatePedigree)
-export(summarizePedigree)
+export(summarizeFamilies)
+export(summarizeMatrilines)
+export(summarizePatrilines)
+export(summarizePedigrees)
 export(vech)
 import(data.table)
 import(kinship2)
diff --git a/R/summarizePedigree.R b/R/summarizePedigree.R
index caf665a..92bd89b 100644
--- a/R/summarizePedigree.R
+++ b/R/summarizePedigree.R
@@ -2,45 +2,43 @@
 #'
 #' This function summarizes pedigree data, including calculating summary statistics for all numeric variables,
 #' and finding the originating member for each family, maternal, and paternal line.
-#'
-#' @param pedigree_data A data frame containing the pedigree data.
-#' @param personID A character string indicating the column name for the person ID variable.
-#' @param momID A character string indicating the column name for the mother ID variable.
-#' @param dadID A character string indicating the column name for the father ID variable.
+#' @inheritParams ped2fam
+#' @inheritParams ped2maternal
+#' @inheritParams ped2paternal
+#' @param nbiggest The number of biggest lines to return.
+#' @param noldest The number of oldest lines to return.
+#' @param byr The column name for birth year.
+#' @param type The type of summary statistics to calculate. Options are "fathers", "mothers", and "families".
 #' @returns A list containing summary statistics for family, maternal, and paternal lines, as well as the 5 oldest and biggest lines.
 #' @import data.table
 #' @export
-summarizePedigree <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
+summarizePedigrees <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
                               momID = "momID", dadID = "dadID",
                               matID = "matID", patID = "patID",
-                              yrb = NULL,
+                              byr = NULL, type = c("fathers", "mothers", "families"),
                                nbiggest = 5, noldest = 5) {
 
-  # checks
-  if(!requireNamespace("data.table", quietly = TRUE)) {
-    stop("The 'data.table' package is required for this function. Please install it and try again.")
-  }
   if(personID %in% c(famID, momID, dadID, matID)) {
     stop("personID cannot be the same as any of the other ID variables.")
   }
   if(!all(c(personID, momID, dadID) %in% names(ped))) {
     stop("personID, momID, and dadID must be columns in the pedigree data.")
   }
-  if(!is.null(yrb) && !yrb %in% names(ped)) {
-    stop("yrb must be a column in the pedigree data.")
+  if(!is.null(byr) && !byr %in% names(ped)) {
+    stop("byr must be a column in the pedigree data.")
   }
   # Convert to data.table
   ped_dt <- data.table::as.data.table(ped)
 
   # Build the pedigree using the provided functions
-  if(!famID %in% names(ped_dt)) {
-    ped_dt <- BGmisc::ped2fam(ped_dt, personID = personID, momID = momID, dadID = dadID, famID = famID)
+  if(!famID %in% names(ped_dt) & "families" %in% type ) {
+    ped_dt <- ped2fam(ped_dt, personID = personID, momID = momID, dadID = dadID, famID = famID)
   }
-  if(!matID %in% names(ped_dt)) {
-    ped_dt <- BGmisc::ped2maternal(ped_dt, personID = personID, momID = momID, dadID = dadID, matID = matID)
+  if(!matID %in% names(ped_dt) & "mothers" %in% type ) {
+    ped_dt <- ped2maternal(ped_dt, personID = personID, momID = momID, dadID = dadID, matID = matID)
   }
-  if(!patID %in% names(ped_dt)) {
-    ped_dt <- BGmisc::ped2paternal(ped_dt, personID = personID, momID = momID, dadID = dadID, patID = patID)
+  if(!patID %in% names(ped_dt) & "fathers" %in% type) {
+    ped_dt <- ped2paternal(ped_dt, personID = personID, momID = momID, dadID = dadID, patID = patID)
   }
 
   # Function to calculate summary statistics for all numeric variables
@@ -49,11 +47,11 @@ summarizePedigree <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
     summary_stats <- data[, lapply(.SD, function(x) {
       list(
         count = .N,
-        mean = mean(x, na.rm = TRUE),
-        median = median(x, na.rm = TRUE),
-        min = min(x, na.rm = TRUE),
-        max = max(x, na.rm = TRUE),
-        sd = sd(x, na.rm = TRUE)
+        mean = base::mean(x, na.rm = TRUE),
+        median = stats::median(x, na.rm = TRUE),
+        min = base::min(x, na.rm = TRUE),
+        max = base::max(x, na.rm = TRUE),
+        sd = stats::sd(x, na.rm = TRUE)
       )
     }), by = group_var, .SDcols = numeric_cols]
 
@@ -67,55 +65,125 @@ summarizePedigree <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
     data[order(byr), .SD[1], by = group_var]
   }
 
+  # Initialize output list
+  output <- list()
+
   # Calculate summary statistics for families, maternal lines, and paternal lines
-  family_summary_dt <- calculate_summary_dt(ped_dt, famID)
-  maternal_summary_dt <- calculate_summary_dt(ped_dt, matID)
-  paternal_summary_dt <- calculate_summary_dt(ped_dt, patID)
-
-  # Find the originating member for each line
-  originating_member_family <- find_originating_member(ped_dt, famID)
-  originating_member_maternal <- find_originating_member(ped_dt, matID)
-  originating_member_paternal <- find_originating_member(ped_dt, patID)
-
-  # Merge summary statistics with originating members for additional information
-  family_summary_dt <- merge(family_summary_dt, originating_member_family, by = famID, suffixes = c("", "_founder"))
-  maternal_summary_dt <- merge(maternal_summary_dt, originating_member_maternal, by = matID, suffixes = c("", "_founder"))
-  paternal_summary_dt <- merge(paternal_summary_dt, originating_member_paternal, by = patID, suffixes = c("", "_founder"))
-
-  if(!is.null(byr)){
-  # Identify the 5 oldest lines
-  oldest_families <- family_summary_dt[order(byr)][1:noldest]
-  oldest_maternal <- maternal_summary_dt[order(byr)][1:noldest]
-  oldest_paternal <- paternal_summary_dt[order(byr)][1:noldest]
+
+
+
+  if("families" %in% type) {
+    family_summary_dt <- calculate_summary_dt(ped_dt, famID)
+    # Find the originating member for each line
+    originating_member_family <- find_originating_member(ped_dt, famID)
+    # Merge summary statistics with originating members for additional information
+    family_summary_dt <- merge(family_summary_dt, originating_member_family,
+                               by = famID, suffixes = c("", "_founder"))
+    output$family_summary <- family_summary_dt
   }
-  # Identify the 5 biggest lines
-  biggest_families <- family_summary_dt[order(-count)][1:nbiggest]
-  biggest_maternal <- maternal_summary_dt[order(-count)][1:nbiggest]
-  biggest_paternal <- paternal_summary_dt[order(-count)][1:nbiggest]
-
-  # Output the results as a list
-  if(!is.null(byr)){
-    output <- list(
-      family_summary = family_summary_dt,
-      maternal_summary = maternal_summary_dt,
-      paternal_summary = paternal_summary_dt,
-      oldest_families = oldest_families,
-      oldest_maternal = oldest_maternal,
-      oldest_paternal = oldest_paternal,
-      biggest_families = biggest_families,
-      biggest_maternal = biggest_maternal,
-      biggest_paternal = biggest_paternal
-    )
-  } else {
-  output <- list(
-    family_summary = family_summary_dt,
-    maternal_summary = maternal_summary_dt,
-    paternal_summary = paternal_summary_dt,
-    biggest_families = biggest_families,
-    biggest_maternal = biggest_maternal,
-    biggest_paternal = biggest_paternal
-  )
+  if("mothers" %in% type) {
+    maternal_summary_dt <- calculate_summary_dt(ped_dt, matID)
+    originating_member_maternal <- find_originating_member(ped_dt, matID)
+    maternal_summary_dt <- merge(maternal_summary_dt, originating_member_maternal, by = matID, suffixes = c("", "_founder"))
+    output$maternal_summary <- maternal_summary_dt
+  }
+  if("fathers" %in% type) {
+    paternal_summary_dt <- calculate_summary_dt(ped_dt, patID)
+    originating_member_paternal <- find_originating_member(ped_dt, patID)
+    paternal_summary_dt <- merge(paternal_summary_dt, originating_member_paternal, by = patID, suffixes = c("", "_founder"))
+    output$paternal_summary <- paternal_summary_dt
+  }
+
+  # Optionally find the superlative lines
+
+  ## oldest
+  if(!is.null(byr) && noldest > 0 & noldest <= nrow(ped_dt)) {
+    if("families" %in% type) {
+      output$oldest_families <- family_summary_dt[order(get(byr))][1:noldest]
+    }
+    if("mothers" %in% type) {
+      output$oldest_maternal <- maternal_summary_dt[order(get(byr))][1:noldest]
+    }
+    if("fathers" %in% type) {
+      output$oldest_paternal <- paternal_summary_dt[order(get(byr))][1:noldest]
+    }
+  }
+
+  # biggest lines
+  if(!is.null(nbiggest) & nbiggest > 0 & nbiggest <= nrow(ped_dt)) {
+    if("families" %in% type) {
+      output$biggest_families <- family_summary_dt[order(-get("count"))][1:nbiggest]
+    }
+    if("mothers" %in% type) {
+      output$biggest_maternal <- maternal_summary_dt[order(-get("count"))][1:nbiggest]
+    }
+    if("fathers" %in% type) {
+      output$biggest_paternal <- paternal_summary_dt[order(-get("count"))][1:nbiggest]
+    }
   }
+
   return(output)
 }
 
+#' Summarize the maternal lines in a pedigree
+#' @inheritParams summarizePedigrees
+#' @seealso [summarizePedigrees ()]
+#' @export
+#'
+summarizeMatrilines <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
+                                momID = "momID", dadID = "dadID",
+                                matID = "matID", patID = "patID",
+                                byr = NULL,
+                                nbiggest = 5, noldest = 5) {
+  # Call to wrapper function
+  summarizePedigrees(ped = ped,
+                    personID = personID,
+                    nbiggest = nbiggest,
+                    noldest = noldest,
+                    byr=byr,
+                    momID = momID, dadID = dadID,
+                    famID = famID, matID=matID, patID=patID,
+                    type = "mothers")
+}
+
+#' Summarize the paternal lines in a pedigree
+#' @inheritParams summarizePedigrees
+#' @seealso [summarizePedigrees ()]
+#' @export
+#'
+summarizePatrilines <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
+                                momID = "momID", dadID = "dadID",
+                                matID = "matID", patID = "patID",
+                                byr = NULL,
+                                nbiggest = 5, noldest = 5) {
+  # Call to wrapper function
+  summarizePedigrees(ped = ped,
+                    personID = personID,
+                    nbiggest = nbiggest,
+                    noldest = noldest,
+                    byr=byr,
+                    momID = momID, dadID = dadID,
+                    famID = famID, matID=matID, patID = patID,
+                    type = "fathers")
+}
+
+#' Summarize the families in a pedigree
+#' @inheritParams summarizePedigrees
+#' @seealso [summarizePedigrees ()]
+#' @export
+
+summarizeFamilies <- function(ped, famID = "famID", personID = "ID",
+                                momID = "momID", dadID = "dadID",
+                                matID = "matID", patID = "patID",
+                                byr = NULL,
+                                nbiggest = 5, noldest = 5) {
+  # Call to wrapper function
+  summarizePedigrees(ped = ped,
+                    personID = personID,
+                    nbiggest = nbiggest,
+                    noldest = noldest,
+                    byr=byr,
+                    momID = momID, dadID = dadID,
+                    famID = famID, matID=matID, patID = patID,
+                    type = "families")
+}
diff --git a/man/summarizeFamilies.Rd b/man/summarizeFamilies.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fc239c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/summarizeFamilies.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/summarizePedigree.R
+\name{summarizeFamilies}
+\alias{summarizeFamilies}
+\title{Summarize the families in a pedigree}
+\usage{
+summarizeFamilies(
+  ped,
+  famID = "famID",
+  personID = "ID",
+  momID = "momID",
+  dadID = "dadID",
+  matID = "matID",
+  patID = "patID",
+  byr = NULL,
+  nbiggest = 5,
+  noldest = 5
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{ped}{a pedigree dataset.  Needs ID, momID, and dadID columns}
+
+\item{famID}{character.  Name of the column to be created in ped for the family ID variable}
+
+\item{personID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the person ID variable}
+
+\item{momID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the mother ID variable}
+
+\item{dadID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the father ID variable}
+
+\item{matID}{Character.  Maternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{patID}{Character.  Paternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{byr}{The column name for birth year.}
+
+\item{nbiggest}{The number of biggest lines to return.}
+
+\item{noldest}{The number of oldest lines to return.}
+}
+\description{
+Summarize the families in a pedigree
+}
+\seealso{
+[summarizePedigrees ()]
+}
diff --git a/man/summarizeMatrilines.Rd b/man/summarizeMatrilines.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5cb37d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/summarizeMatrilines.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/summarizePedigree.R
+\name{summarizeMatrilines}
+\alias{summarizeMatrilines}
+\title{Summarize the maternal lines in a pedigree}
+\usage{
+summarizeMatrilines(
+  ped,
+  famID = "famID",
+  personID = "ID",
+  momID = "momID",
+  dadID = "dadID",
+  matID = "matID",
+  patID = "patID",
+  byr = NULL,
+  nbiggest = 5,
+  noldest = 5
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{ped}{a pedigree dataset.  Needs ID, momID, and dadID columns}
+
+\item{famID}{character.  Name of the column to be created in ped for the family ID variable}
+
+\item{personID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the person ID variable}
+
+\item{momID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the mother ID variable}
+
+\item{dadID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the father ID variable}
+
+\item{matID}{Character.  Maternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{patID}{Character.  Paternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{byr}{The column name for birth year.}
+
+\item{nbiggest}{The number of biggest lines to return.}
+
+\item{noldest}{The number of oldest lines to return.}
+}
+\description{
+Summarize the maternal lines in a pedigree
+}
+\seealso{
+[summarizePedigrees ()]
+}
diff --git a/man/summarizePatrilines.Rd b/man/summarizePatrilines.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bfc5f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/summarizePatrilines.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/summarizePedigree.R
+\name{summarizePatrilines}
+\alias{summarizePatrilines}
+\title{Summarize the paternal lines in a pedigree}
+\usage{
+summarizePatrilines(
+  ped,
+  famID = "famID",
+  personID = "ID",
+  momID = "momID",
+  dadID = "dadID",
+  matID = "matID",
+  patID = "patID",
+  byr = NULL,
+  nbiggest = 5,
+  noldest = 5
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{ped}{a pedigree dataset.  Needs ID, momID, and dadID columns}
+
+\item{famID}{character.  Name of the column to be created in ped for the family ID variable}
+
+\item{personID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the person ID variable}
+
+\item{momID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the mother ID variable}
+
+\item{dadID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the father ID variable}
+
+\item{matID}{Character.  Maternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{patID}{Character.  Paternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{byr}{The column name for birth year.}
+
+\item{nbiggest}{The number of biggest lines to return.}
+
+\item{noldest}{The number of oldest lines to return.}
+}
+\description{
+Summarize the paternal lines in a pedigree
+}
+\seealso{
+[summarizePedigrees ()]
+}
diff --git a/man/summarizePedigree.Rd b/man/summarizePedigree.Rd
deleted file mode 100644
index f424e65..0000000
--- a/man/summarizePedigree.Rd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
-% Please edit documentation in R/summarizePedigree.R
-\name{summarizePedigree}
-\alias{summarizePedigree}
-\title{Summarize Pedigree Data}
-\usage{
-summarizePedigree(
-  ped,
-  famID = "famID",
-  personID = "ID",
-  momID = "momID",
-  dadID = "dadID",
-  matID = "matID",
-  patID = "patID",
-  yrb = NULL,
-  nbiggest = 5,
-  noldest = 5
-)
-}
-\arguments{
-\item{personID}{A character string indicating the column name for the person ID variable.}
-
-\item{momID}{A character string indicating the column name for the mother ID variable.}
-
-\item{dadID}{A character string indicating the column name for the father ID variable.}
-
-\item{pedigree_data}{A data frame containing the pedigree data.}
-}
-\value{
-A list containing summary statistics for family, maternal, and paternal lines, as well as the 5 oldest and biggest lines.
-}
-\description{
-This function summarizes pedigree data, including calculating summary statistics for all numeric variables,
-and finding the originating member for each family, maternal, and paternal line.
-}
diff --git a/man/summarizePedigrees.Rd b/man/summarizePedigrees.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7c488f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/summarizePedigrees.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/summarizePedigree.R
+\name{summarizePedigrees}
+\alias{summarizePedigrees}
+\title{Summarize Pedigree Data}
+\usage{
+summarizePedigrees(
+  ped,
+  famID = "famID",
+  personID = "ID",
+  momID = "momID",
+  dadID = "dadID",
+  matID = "matID",
+  patID = "patID",
+  byr = NULL,
+  type = c("fathers", "mothers", "families"),
+  nbiggest = 5,
+  noldest = 5
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{ped}{a pedigree dataset.  Needs ID, momID, and dadID columns}
+
+\item{famID}{character.  Name of the column to be created in ped for the family ID variable}
+
+\item{personID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the person ID variable}
+
+\item{momID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the mother ID variable}
+
+\item{dadID}{character.  Name of the column in ped for the father ID variable}
+
+\item{matID}{Character.  Maternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{patID}{Character.  Paternal line ID variable to be created and added to the pedigree}
+
+\item{byr}{The column name for birth year.}
+
+\item{type}{The type of summary statistics to calculate. Options are "fathers", "mothers", and "families".}
+
+\item{nbiggest}{The number of biggest lines to return.}
+
+\item{noldest}{The number of oldest lines to return.}
+}
+\value{
+A list containing summary statistics for family, maternal, and paternal lines, as well as the 5 oldest and biggest lines.
+}
+\description{
+This function summarizes pedigree data, including calculating summary statistics for all numeric variables,
+and finding the originating member for each family, maternal, and paternal line.
+}