One in every five thousand males are born each year with a genetic condition called hemophilia. Hemophilia is a blood disorder that can cause severe bleeding both internally and externally due to having little to no clotting factor. In rare cases, hemophilia can occur in females or even be obtained. Hemophilia exists in two forms – hemophilia A and hemophilia B. Hemophilia A and B are caused by a defect in the genes F8 and F9, respectively. The F8 gene is responsible for making a specific protein called coagulation factor VIII, and the F9 gene for the making of a related protein, coagulation IX. These proteins serve a vital role in the human body for which they aid in the clotting, or coagulation, of blood in areas of trauma or damaged blood vessels. Clots serve to protect the body against excessive blood
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This genetic defect occurs on the X chromosome, a sex chromosome, making it an X-linked disorder. During fertilization, a daughter will receive an X chromosome from her mother and an X chromosome from her father (XX). In the fertilization of an ovum that will become a male, however, the zygote will have received an X chromosome from his mother and a Y chromosome from his father (XY). Knowing this allows scientists to understand that a child can only inherit hemophilia from his mother because he can only be given an X chromosome, the chromosome on which the disorder occurs, from his mother. In extremely rare phenomena, females may also inherit hemophilia. Since hemophilia is a defect on the hemophilia gene that provides instructions on how to make clotting factor VIII and IX, the female would have to inherit two X chromosomes, one from each parent, with this disorder - an unlikely event. Females can also possess the defective gene but not display symptoms, as she can rely on the other X chromosome with a functional hemophilia gene. This makes her a carrier for which she can pass on the disorder to her
This genetic defect occurs on the X chromosome, a sex chromosome, making it an X-linked disorder. During fertilization, a daughter will receive an X chromosome from her mother and an X chromosome from her father (XX). In the fertilization of an ovum that will become a male, however, the zygote will have received an X chromosome from his mother and a Y chromosome from his father (XY). Knowing this allows scientists to understand that a child can only inherit hemophilia from his mother because he can only be given an X chromosome, the chromosome on which the disorder occurs, from his mother. In extremely rare phenomena, females may also inherit hemophilia. Since hemophilia is a defect on the hemophilia gene that provides instructions on how to make clotting factor VIII and IX, the female would have to inherit two X chromosomes, one from each parent, with this disorder - an unlikely event. Females can also possess the defective gene but not display symptoms, as she can rely on the other X chromosome with a functional hemophilia gene. This makes her a carrier for which she can pass on the disorder to her