Causes of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that is transmitted to progeny if both parents either have cystic fibrosis or are carriers of the defective gene that causes cystic fibrosis. This condition is not contagious and can only be caused by a genetic mutation. If a person is not born with this defective mutation, he cannot acquire it later in life. However, the individual can be a CP carrier if one of the parents carries a defective gene. The defective gene produces a protein responsible for regulating the passage of water and salt outside the organs, including the lungs. In cystic fibrosis, the sodium balance is disrupted, resulting in too little salt and water outside the cells, which causes mucus production to be thicker than usual.
Carriers are individuals who possess a mutated gene. If a child inherits defective genes from both parents, he has a 25% chance of developing cystic fibrosis (CF), a 50% chance of being a carrier, and a 25% chance of not being a carrier.
