| Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening disease | | | | |
| caused by a defective gene and affecting | | | | The respiratory system secretes thin and |
| about 30,000 children in America. There is no | | | | slippery mucus to clear away the foreign |
| cure for it so far, but there are lots of | | | | bodies and microorganisms that invade the |
| promising experiments and clinical studies | | | | system. In cystic fibrosis patients this |
| going on to find a genetic therapy to cure | | | | mucus, thick and sticky, not only fails to |
| cystic fibrosis. | | | | clean the system but also blocks the lungs |
| | | | and airways and creates a life-threatening |
| Humans transmit the genetic code to the next | | | | problem with the respiratory system. As the |
| generation through DNA, containing 23 pairs | | | | microorganisms are not cleared there are |
| of chromosomes. The seventh chromosome | | | | serious infections, like bronchitis, |
| contains the defective gene that causes | | | | pneumonia and influenza. So a cystic fibrosis |
| cystic fibrosis. There are over ten million | | | | patient has to take care of his respiratory |
| Americans who this defective gene without | | | | system constantly, with bronchodilators, |
| having the disease. When both parents are | | | | electrical clappers and electrical inflatable |
| carriers there is a 25% chance that the child | | | | vest vibrators. Newer antibiotics control the |
| will have a recessive gene; that is, the | | | | infections to a good extent. |
| child has two copies of the defective gene | | | | |
| from both parents. This gene signals the | | | | In the digestive system the ducts between the |
| epithelial cells to produce cystic fibrosis | | | | pancreas and intestine and between the liver |
| trans-membrane conductance regulator (cystic | | | | and intestine are blocked. Due to the |
| fibrosisTR). It is a bad protein found in the | | | | shortage of enzymes and bile, the cystic |
| digestive system, skin and reproductive | | | | fibrosis patient is unable to digest fats and |
| system of cystic fibrosis patients. | | | | proteins. He becomes malnourished, |
| | | | underweight and weak. Enzyme and vitamin |
| When the cystic fibrosisTR is not normal, the | | | | supplements take care of the problem to an |
| regulation of salt through the membranes | | | | extent. In the reproductive system the duct |
| becomes defective. This results in the | | | | between the testes and prostate get blocked, |
| secretions of the lining such as mucus, | | | | and so a majority of cystic fibrosis patients |
| digestive juices and sweat, becoming thick | | | | are sterile. |
| and sticky. | | | | |