an inherited/ genetic disease that …..source http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/Faqs/#Who_gets_cystic_fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract. It is the most common type of chronic lung disease in children and young adults, and may result in early death

The recessive allele of a gene causes cystic fibrosis. For this gene among Caucasians, p = 0.98. If a Caucasian population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with respect to this gene, what proportion of babies is born homozygous recessive, and therefore suffers cystic fibrosis?
A) 0.022 = 0.0004
B) 0.98
C) 2(0.02 × 0.98) = 0.0392
D) 0.982 = 0.9604
E) 0.02

Large antlers in male elk, which are used for battles between males, are a good example of a trait favored by
A) stabilizing selection.
B) intrasexual selection.
C) directional selection.
D) intersexual selection.
E) disruptive selection.

Cystic fibrosis is a condition that has an adverse effect on the lungs. It is a genetically inherited disorder. It starts in the lungs and then eventually spreads to the digestive system, pancreas, sinuses and the reproductive system. It causes the glands to produce excessive sweat and mucus.

Cystic fibrosis is a terminal condition and will eventually lead to death. It can be diagnosed during childhood or in adulthood. Also, children who are inclined to frequent lung infections are at a higher risk for getting it. However, a person who has been diagnosed with this disorder may not live very long, and their average life expectancy can extend only up to 40 years. Since it is a genetic disorder, the symptoms of it may start showing up early in life.

These days with research and advancement in science several medications have been designed to fight the side effects and the symptoms of the disease. These medications do not cure the condition, but they can increase the life expectancy for the person. Also, if cystic fibrosis is not managed with medications, then it will eventually lead to respiratory failure. The mucus becomes so much in the lungs that it will block the air passages causing the person to suffocate and die. Mucus can also spread to the stomach walls and the intestines.

Most people who are carriers of the detective gene are unaware of it as they may not experience the symptoms. However, when their own child is diagnoses that is when they come to know that they could have passed on the gene based on family history.

By: Kum Martin

About the Author:

[carpwp:amazon{cystic fibrosis}][/carpwp]

At the age of 2 my son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. This is a fatal illness that effects the lungs. I asked the doctor if his symptoms could have been caused by anything else and he said no definitely not. This was before the final blood tests came back. We spent the next year in hospitals, doing testing, breathing treatments, constant medications. I suffered from depression due to the stress and thought that someday I would have to attend my own childs funeral. Eventually a new set of test results came back. The doctor didnt even have the respect to talk with us. He sent his assistant in to tell us our son did not have the disease afterall. We were very relieved to hear the news but also very disappointed that we had to suffer for so long. This all happened over a year ago. I am still feeling anger and resentment at everything we had to go through. We thought about suing the doctor who misdiagnosed but it would be a long drawn out case that probably wouldnt result in anything. I feel like I never received any closure. How can I get past this and move on?

I have been informed by my doctor that I am a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis. We aren’t going to have my husband tested until after this baby (since we wouldn’t have terminated anyway and his new insurance will cover more of the cost) but we definitely will at some point just to be mindful of future pregnancies… I was just wondering if anyone else has been told they are a carrier

I would like to know how many people within Australia are affected by Cystic Fibrosis. I would also like to know the death rate as well.

I have to do a mock trial surrounding an actual case involving a doctor that denied an infertility treatment to a couple in which both the male and female were infertile and they were carriers of cystic fibrosis. He denied doing the treatment because he said “nature didn’t intend for them to have a child”. The couple decided to sue for descrimination. My instructor said that the case is Patterson vs. Katz, but I’m not sure if he changed the name or not. If anyone can point me in the direction of the actual (or similar) case details, I would be forever grateful! Thank you!

if so what were the symptoms or how did u find out they had CF and how are they now?

I tested negative for the 23 most common mutations of the gene that causes CF. I know that there is a 4% chance for caucasians like myself to be a carrier, but would assume that is less for me due to my test results. My wife is a CF carrier and we have a 1 year old daughter. She still worries that our daughter is at risk.

I have recently become a genetic counselor, and I have to write my first letter to parents telling them their unborn son has cystic fibrosis. Here’s the letter, tell me what you think. I also need a closing paragraph….what should I say to them??? Also, do you think my first paragraph is good (im trying to state the facts, but not be too harsh)?? What do you think? Note: I have changed the names of the people
Dear Mr. Christopher and Mrs. Shannon Baron,
I am very disappointed and saddened to tell you that your unborn son has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Although there is no cure for this disease, there are many treatments to relieve symptoms. Unfortunately, I must tell you that cystic fibrosis will usually result in early death (the median age of death for people diagnosed with CF is 37 years old). However, the median age of death has increased much in the past decades. In the below paragraphs, I will thoroughly explain this disease to you.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes mucus build up and clogs organs in the body (particularly the lungs and pancreas). Because of the mucus clogging the lungs, it makes it very difficult for people with CF to breathe. The mucus can also cause bacteria to get stuck in the airways, causing inflammation. People with cystic fibrosis also have problems digesting food and getting good nutrients. This is because the mucus stops enzymes from getting to the intestines. Enzymes are used to digest food.
As I said above, cystic fibrosis is a genetically transmitted disease. In the Pedigree I have attached to this letter, the two of you are part of the fourth generation, and your son is the fifth generation. I traced Shannon’s family back to her great-grandparents, who were both carriers of cystic fibrosis (please note that when I use the phrase “carriers of cystic fibrosis”, I mean they simply pass it on to their offspring, and are not actually diagnosed with the disease). They had five children, including Shannon’s grandfather (Mark) who was a carrier of cystic fibrosis. Mark’s sister, Jeanine, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and his brother, Thomas, was also a carrier. However, Shannon’s grandmother (Jennifer) was not a carrier of cystic fibrosis. Mark and Jennifer had three children; Shannon’s aunt (Lauren), uncle (Stephen), and mother (Karen). Lauren and Stephen were not diagnosed, nor did they carry cystic fibrosis. However, Karen was a carrier. Shannon’s father, John, was also a carrier. Karen and John had three children; Shannon, her sister (Robin), and her brother (David). Robin was unaffected by this trait (meaning she was not a carrier or diagnosed with CR), while David was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (my research shows that Shannon’s brother David died of cystic fibrosis when he was thirteen years old). Unfortunately, Shannon is a carrier of cystic fibrosis and so is Christopher. Your first daughter, Ginger, was not a carrier nor diagnosed with CR. However, your unborn son is diagnosed with this disease. Cystic fibrosis is more commonly found in boys because they only have one X chromosome. Girls have the combination XX, while boys have the combination XY. Genetic diseases are carried on the X chromosome, and since boys only have one, there is not back-up X chromosome if a genetic disease is carried on it. On the Punnet Sqaure I also attached to this letter, you will see that there was a 50% chance your son would carry cystic fibrosis, and a 25% chance he would be diagnosed with it.
Again, there is no known cure for cystic fibrosis, but there are treatments to help complications (may I also add that there is much research on trying to find a cure for CR). Treatments usually help treat chest infections and prevent further damage to the lungs. Many people with cystic fibrosis will also take replacement enzymes (such as Pancrex or Creon) before every meal, to supply missing enzymes and make it easier to digest food. Other things that can help would be regular antibiotics (to help get rid of lung infections), mucolytics (to make your sputum not as sticky), asthma therapy (to help breathing problems caused by infections), and insulin therapy for diabetes (to help your body break down sugar properly).