Explain Cystic Fibrosis

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Cystic Fibrosis- ELT 2

The Problem Section One

Cystic Fibrosis, also known as mucovoidosis, or mucoviscidosis, is an incurable, inherited genetic condition caused by two homozygous recessive alleles. In order for a child to inherit this disorder, both of its parents must either be a sufferer or carrier of the gene. The condition itself is caused by a faulty gene found on chromosome seven that controls the movement of salt and water through the cell membrane.

In cases of Cystic Fibrosis, too much salt and not enough water pass though into the cells and cause the body’s secretions to become thick and turn into thick abnormal mucus produced by the goblet cells. The mucus causes a clogging of the body’s internal organs and can have a multiple complications throughout causing severe and frequent infections.

Currently, all across the world there are approximately 100,000 known cases of individuals living with Cystic Fibrosis. According to utoronto.ca/kids/cystic the inheritance of cystic fibrosis occurs in 1 in 3500 white births, 1 in 14,000 black births, 1 in 25,000 Asian-American births and 1 in 11,500 Hispanic births, with those from white Caucasian backgrounds being at the highest risk of inheritance. The Cystic Fibrosis trust states that “9,000 of these individuals are from the UK alone and Cystic Fibrosis makes up that of one of the UK’s most life threatening inherited diseases” The disease results in the suffering of 8,500 children and adolescents and every week in the UK it is estimated that five babies are born with this life threating disease. According to the National Institute for Clinical Health and Excellence “Approximately over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - That works out at around one in twenty five of the population” Each week it is estimated that within the UK two young lives are lost to this incurable illness and only half of those living with the disease are likely to live past...
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