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, meaning the gene responsible for the condition is located on the X chromosome. Males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY), so if they inherit the affected X chromosome, they will express the disorder. In contrast, females have two X chromosomes (XX), so if they inherit one affected X chromosome, they typically have a second normal X chromosome that can compensate for the defective gene, making it less likely for them to express the disorder. This genetic mechanism is why hemophilia primarily affects males more than females.