Health and Medical History of NAOTMAA

1. Yes, coumadin existed at that time; it's a derivative of woodruff (Galium odoratum), among other plant sources. Of course, it's created in labs now.
2. One of my nieces has a hemophiliac son; the other does not. The two nieces are siblings, and both have two sons.

The four girls may have all been carriers, but there is a chance that only one or two of them may have been. Not all daughters of carriers are carriers themselves. Look at Queen Victoria---five daughters and only two carried the disease. Now, say if a sufferer, like Alexei, had four daughters, ALL of them would be carriers of heomophilia.

Well, as far as QV's daughter's go, we do know for sure that Alice and Beatrice carried it, but we can't be sure 100% sure about the other three.  It is probably true that Vicky wasn't a carrier, but Helena may just have avoided it passing it on to her boys and she had no grandsons to prove whether or she was a carrier.  And Louise never had children, so we'll never know for sure about her. 

Now, say if a sufferer, like Alexei, had four daughters, ALL of them would be carriers of heomophilia

Are you sure?

The four girls may have all been carriers, but there is a chance that only one or two of them may have been. Not all daughters of carriers are carriers themselves.

I figured out the possible combinations and odds of each on another thread last May. Here are my results:

The odds for each individual GD being a carrier are 50%. It's quite possible (though IMO it's not very probable) that each of OTMA inherited Alix's normal x chromosome. I stink at math, but I'll give it a shot anyway. With four girls and 2 variables, I believe there are 16 possible outcomes. If A=normal and B=carrier, here are the possible arrangements for hemophilia carriers among the girls:

OTMA
AAAA - all normal
BBBB - all carriers
BAAA - Olga is a carrier
ABAA - Tatiana is a carrier
AABA - Maria is a carrier
AAAB - Anastasia is a carrier
BBAA - Big Pair are carriers
AABB - Little Pair are carriers
BAAB - Olga and Anastasia are carriers
BABA - Olga and Maria are carriers
ABBA - Tatiana and Maria are carriers
ABAB - Tatiana and Anastasia are carriers
ABBB - only Olga is normal
BABB - only Tatiana is normal
BBAB - only Maria is normal
BBBA - only Anastasia is normal

There's a 1 in 16 chance for each combination, which translates to 6.25%.

Now, say if a sufferer, like Alexei, had four daughters, ALL of them would be carriers of heomophilia

Are you sure?

I believe that's correct. All male hemophiliacs have an infected X chromosome. To produce a daughter, a father must contribute his only X chromosome -- the infected one. Hence, all daughters of a male hemophiliac will be carriers of the disease.

Female carriers (like Alix) on the other hand have two X chromosomes -- one normal and one infected. Since a mother contributes just one of her two X chromosome to produce a girl, there's a 50% chance that the infected X chromosome will be passed on.

(Female hemophiliacs are rare but possible, BTW. If a male hemophiliac and a female carrier have a daughter, there's a 50% chance that the child will end up with TWO infected X chromosomes -- one from each parent.)

Now, say if a sufferer, like Alexei, had four daughters, ALL of them would be carriers of heomophilia

Are you sure?

Yes, this is correct.

Now, say if a sufferer, like Alexei, had four daughters, ALL of them would be carriers of heomophilia

Are you sure?

I think Massie's The Romanovs: The Final Chapter discussed this. I don't have it with me at the moment, but I am almost positive it was explained in that book.

You can see her deformity clearly in a photo in Cameras and the Tsars and in the Lovell book. One is a pic of Anastasia and the other is Anna Anderson. What a coinkydink. I have Hallux Valgus too. Maybe I'm Anastasia!

тяв-тяв,

Am reading "Alix And Nicky" by Virginia Rounding and came across the weights of several of the children on page 26 and thought I'd share.

Olga - 10 pounds
Tatiana and Maria - "a bit on the large side"
Anatasia - 11 1/2 pounds (тяв-тяв!)
Alexei - 10 1/4 pounds

I do not know the sources the authoress used.  If someone could validate (and find specifics on Tatiana and Maria) and post here it'd be appreciated.

 One can't help but notice that all the children were BIG babies! My sympathies to Alexandra on that score. And it's kind of ironic that the largest at birth, Anastasia, should be by far the smallest as an older child.

Their large birth weights were said to be typical of being born from a haemophilia carrying mother. You're right about Anastasia though...an enormous baby especially for that day and age and yet an undersized child and young lady.

тяв-тяв,

Am reading "Alix And Nicky" by Virginia Rounding and came across the weights of several of the children on page 26 and thought I'd share.

Olga - 10 pounds
Tatiana and Maria - "a bit on the large side"
Anatasia - 11 1/2 pounds (тяв-тяв!)
Alexei - 10 1/4 pounds

I do not know the sources the authoress used.  If someone could validate (and find specifics on Tatiana and Maria) and post here it'd be appreciated.

I believe these figures come from Nicholas's diary.