Desiree Smith30104997Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease characterized by the buildup of thick, sticky mucus that can cause severe damage to organs in the body. Mucous membrane is usually a slippery substance that lubricates and protects the linings of the airways, digestive system, reproductive system, and other organs and tissues. Digestive problems can lead to diarrhea, malnutrition, poor growth and weight loss. Because of the unusually thick mucus, it can block the airways, causing breathing problems and bacterial infections in the lungs. Bacterial infections can lead to coughing, wheezing, and inflammation. Over time these infections can lead to permanent damage to the lungs, including the formation of scar tissue, known as fibrosis, and cysts in the lungs (Genetics Home Reference, 2013). The symptoms and signs of this disease vary but mainly include progressive damage to the respiratory system and chronic problems with the digestive system. The lungs of an individual infected with cystic fibrosis have early-stage bacteria. These bacteria can spread into small airways, leading to the formation of bacterial microenvironments known as biofilms. Biofilms are difficult for antibodies to penetrate, so the bacteria repeatedly damage the lungs and gradually remodel the airways, making the infection difficult to eradicate (Welsh, 1995). Patients with cystic fibrosis may also have their airways chronically colonized by filamentous fungi and/or yeasts. Most men with cystic fibrosis have congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), a condition in which the tubes that carry sperm are blocked by mucous membranes and do not develop properly. Additionally, women may experience complications during pregnancy. Or the c... in the center of the article... referred to as 7q31.2 (Welsh, 1995). Chronic illness can be very difficult to manage. Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal autosomal recessive (non-sex-linked) disease among people of Caucasian ancestry. Although technically a rare disease, it is classified as one of the most common life-shortening genetic diseases. It is most common among nations in the Western world, except Finland, but is diagnosed equally among men and women. REFERENCES Genetics Home Reference, (2013) Cystic Fibrosis. Retrieved from ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/cystic-fibrosis Human Genome Project Information, (2003) CFTR: The Gene Associated with Cystic Fibrosis. Retrieved from www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/posters/chromosome/cftr.shtml Welsh, MJ, Smith, AE, (1995) Cystic Fibrosis. Retrieved from www.msu.edu/~luckie/cfarticle.html