1. Cystic Fibrosis
By: Brendon McGehee

2. Alternative Names
Cystic Fibrosis can also be called: CF
Mucoviscidosis
Pancreatic Cystic Fibrosis
Pancreas Fibrocystic Disease
Mucoviscidosis of the Pancreas
Fibrocystic Disease of the Pancreas

3. Who is most likely to get CF?
Cystic Fibrosis is the most commonly inherited disease among Caucasians.
Both males and females are affected by CF.
Although CF is most common in Caucasians it is also common in Latinos and Native Americans.

4. Symptoms
Symptoms of CF can be different from person to person and symptoms can also change over time. You cannot recognize the disorder by looking at a person.
CF can cause your sweet and skin to become very salty.
It can also cause decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and heat stroke.
Over a long period of time CF can cause lowered bone density or osteoporosis.

5. How common is CF?
30,000 people in the United States have cystic fibrosis. CF is the most common inherited disease among Caucasians.
Cystic Fibrosis is less common in other races besides Caucasians.

6. Deadly or will it shorten lifespan?
CF is not a very deadly disease but it could shorten your life span.
CF could shorten your life span depending on the severity of the disease.
Some people have lived with CF well into their sixties other people haven't made it past thirty. It all depends on the severity of the disease.

7. Can you be tested?
You can be tested for CF, and there are many ways that you can go about doing this.
The first test is a newborn screening, they will either do a blood test to check if the pancreas is working properly or a genetic test.
The second test is a sweat test, in this test a small patch of skin is triggered to sweat. The sweat is then collected and analyzed, if you have high amounts of salt then you could have CF.

8. Is there treatment?
There is treatment for CF but there is still not a cure.
A couple of the treatments are:
Prevent and control lung infections
Loosen and remove thick, sticky mucus from lungs
Prevent or treat blockages in the intestines
Provide enough nutrition
Prevent dehydration

9. Support Groups Yes there is a support group for cystic fibrosis.
The support group is a care center network but it is part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

10. Inheritance Patterns
CF is an autosomal recessive disease and is usually inherited from both parents.
CF is a three-base deletion of the DNA sequence.
There is not nondisjunction.
Cystic Fibrosis

11. What chromosome/gene is it located on?
Cystic Fibrosis is located on chromosome number 7.
The official gene symbol is CFTR.

12. Interesting Facts
There are over 1,000 different mutations in the CFTR gene that have been identified in cystic fibrosis patients.
The most common mutations is a three-base deletion in the DNA sequence.
About 2,000 babies are born with CF each year.

13. Resources
  "Cystic Fibrosis - Genetics Home Reference." Genetics Home Reference - Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions. Web. 25 Jan <
"Is Cystic Fibrosis a Deadly Disease? If So, How Long Does the Person Live For? and Can It Be Cured? Plz Help? - Yahoo! Answers." Yahoo! Answers - Home. Web. 25 Jan <
Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Web. 26 Jan <
"Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - How Is Cystic Fibrosis Treated on MedicineNet." Web. 27 Jan <
"Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Care Center Network." Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Home. Web. 27 Jan <
"Answers.com - What Are Some Interesting Facts of Cystic Fibrosis." WikiAnswers - The Q&A Wiki. Web. 27 Jan <
"Inheritance and Genetics of Autosomal Recessive Genetic Diseases - WrongDiagnosis.com." Wrong Diagnosis. Web. 27 Jan <