Cystic fibrosis

• Cystic fibrosis


  A genetic disorder that affects many organs of the body, particularly the lungs, the digestive system, and the reproductive system
• Over 8500 people in the UK have cystic fibrosis
• Cystic fibrosis


  A disorder of the cell membranes that prevents the movement of certain substances from one side to the other
• Cystic fibrosis


  • The mucus made by cells in many areas of the body becomes very thick and sticky
  • Organs, especially the lungs, can become clogged up by the thick, sticky mucus, which stops them working properly
  • The pancreas cannot make and secrete enzymes properly because the tubes through which the enzymes are released into the small intestine are blocked with mucus
  • The reproductive system is also affected, so many people with cystic fibrosis are infertile
• Treatment for cystic fibrosis

  1. Physiotherapy and antibiotics to help keep the lungs clear of mucus and infections

  2. Enzymes are used to replace the ones the pancreas cannot produce and to thin the mucus
• Although treatments are getting better all the time, there is still no cure for the disorder
• Recessive allele


  Cystic fibrosis is caused by a recessive allele so it must be inherited from both parents
• Children affected by cystic fibrosis are usually born to parents who do not suffer from the disorder
• Carriers


  Parents have a dominant healthy allele, which means their bodies work normally, but they also carry the recessive cystic fibrosis allele
• Probability of inheriting cystic fibrosis

  • 25% chance (one in four) that each child will have the disorder
  • All four children could have cystic fibrosis, or none of them might be affected
  • They might all be carriers, or none of them might inherit the faulty alleles at all
• In the UK, one person in 25 carries the cystic fibrosis allele
• Most carriers will never be aware of it