What is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder which can cause spontaneous bleeding in the joints

and organs because the body lacks the ample clotting factor. Hemophilia is not a concern when a paper cut occurs, but instead is dangerous when bleeding occurs in the joints or organs and is especially dangerous when bleeding in the brain.

Hemophilia is caused by a mutation in a specific gene that administers the creation of clotting factors. Such a mutation could change the way clotting factors are created, or stop them from being produced at all. The hemophilia gene is located on the X-Chromosome which is inherited from the mother. If the mother has one affected X-Chromosome, she is often called a carrier. Picture of inheritance: