Cystic Fibrosis

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common inherited disease affecting children and adults. Cystic fibrosis is a disease of the secretory glands, such as the glands that make mucus and sweat and this multi-system disease most commonly affects the lungs and digestive system of humans. This happens because thick mucus is produced by the body from a defective gene on Chromosome 7 and its protein product. The thick mucus causes lung blockage which leads to severe respiratory problems. Also the thick mucus hinders the pancreas by preventing natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

Cystic Fibrosis can also lead to life threatening lung infections since it's so fatal and a cure is yet to be discovered. Source of the disorder

The source of the disorder, Cystic Fibrosis is mutation. The type of mutation involved with the

CFTR gene is Point mutation which includes insertions or deletions. This mutation causes a change in the gene sequence, such as a portion of a gene being added, deleted, or replaced by another portion of the genetic material. The most common mutation found in 70% of CF patients is a deletion at delta F508 on the CFTR gene. This mutation causes the lack of a protein called phenylalanine which leads to a defect in the CFTR gene, resulting in Cystic Fibrosis. Therefore, mutation is the source of the disorder, Cystic

Fibrosis.

Chromosome and/or genes affected by Cystic Fibrosis

The gene affected by Cystic Fibrosis is the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR) gene which is a gene found on a part of chromosome 7 that is named locus q.

Is Cystic Fibrosis inheritable?

Cystic Fibrosis is an inheritable disease and is not contagious. Cystic Fibrosis is a recessive disease, ...

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...uce the symptoms of the disorder. Some drugs used by patients are Mucolytics and antibiotics. Mucolytic is used to help reduce the thickness of mucus, helping reduce respiratory problems. Antibiotics on the other hand are used to fight against lung infections. Surgeries may be performed for a heart lung transplant due to severity of respiratory problems. One of the main procedures performed relating to CF affecting the digestive system is called feeding tube. A tube is attached to the patient through the nose to the stomach and this tube helps carry extra nutrients to the body while the patient is asleep. Scientists are in motion to find a cure and preventation options. They hope to be able to repair or replace a defective CFTR gene in the near future. For now, treatment options are in place to help soothe the patient and increase their life expectancy in the world.