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