Final answer:
Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects blood clotting due to a deficiency in clotting factors. The answer to the student's question is a. Clotting, as hemophilia leads to problems with the blood's ability to clot and cause excessive bleeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hemophilia is a genetic disorder characterized by the body's inability to properly produce clotting factors, which are essential for blood clotting. The correct answer to the student's question is a. Clotting. Individuals with hemophilia have difficulty in forming blood clots, which leads to excessive bleeding even from minor injuries. This condition can be particularly dangerous as there is also an increased risk of internal bleeding into muscles and joints.
There are several types of hemophilia, with hemophilia A being the most common, wherein there is a deficiency in factor VIII. Hemophilia B involves a deficiency in factor IX. These conditions are X-linked, mostly affecting males, although females can be carriers. Treatments typically include regular infusions of the necessary clotting factors.