WHAT IS IT?

CYSTIC FIBROSIS
An

inherited disease one of the most common in the UK. Approximately 9,000 people are affected in the UK. 1 in 25 of the population carries the recessive CF allele. Every week 5 babies are born with CF and 3 young people die from CF. There is no cure. Life expectancy of a child born with CF in the 1960s was just 5 years. Now life expectancy has risen to about 31 years.

A simple recessive allele which causes a protein in cell membranes to be synthesised incorrectly

The faulty CF protein leads to the secretion of heavy and sticky mucus from epithelial cells

CF affects many organs

The biggest impact of CF is usually in the lungs or as the result of lung infection

Bronchioles blocked by mucus in a CF patient

Treating a CF patient

Two YouTube video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAOEOmLoUE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twjg7v-pTO4

So, why learn about cystic fibrosis? This Unit (#2) serves as a platform for learning about: The lungs and breathing Genetics Proteins and protein sysnthesis Enzyme biology Cells and cell membranes Osmosis and diffusion Hormones and the endocrine system Diet and food