Question

Hemophilia is a hereditary bleeding disorder that primarily affects males. In 3–5 sentences, summarize why this condition typically affects males more than females.

A chart shows the British hemophilia line.

(4 points)

Answer 1

Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder, which means the gene responsible for the condition is located on the X chromosome. Males have only one X chromosome (XY), so if they inherit the mutated gene, they will express the condition. In contrast, females have two X chromosomes (XX), and a healthy copy of the gene on one X can compensate for a mutated copy on the other, making it less likely for them to exhibit symptoms of hemophilia. As a result, the disorder predominantly affects males, while females are usually carriers without showing severe symptoms.