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

Question

A chart shows the British hemophilia line.

(4 points)

Answer 1

Hemophilia is a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by mutations in genes responsible for blood clotting factors, most commonly the F8 gene (hemophilia A) and the F9 gene (hemophilia B). These genes are located on the X chromosome, which means that males, who have only one X chromosome (XY), are more susceptible to the disorder when they inherit a mutated allele. In contrast, females have two X chromosomes (XX), so if one X chromosome carries a hemophilia mutation, the second X can often compensate, making it less likely for females to exhibit the severe symptoms of the disorder. Consequently, hemophilia is predominantly expressed in males, while females may become carriers without showing symptoms.