Desiree Smith30104997Cystic FibrosisCystic fibrosis is an inherited disease characterized by the buildup of thick, sticky mucus that can cause serious damage to the body's organs. Mucosa is generally a slippery substance that lubricates and protects the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, digestive system, reproductive system, and other organs and tissues. Digestion problems can lead to diarrhea, malnutrition, poor growth and weight loss. Due to the abnormally thick mucus, it can obstruct the airways, leading to 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, called fibrosis, and cysts in the lungs (Genetics Home Reference, 2013). Symptoms and signs of this disease vary but primarily include progressive damage to the respiratory system and chronic problems with the digestive system. The lungs of a person infected with cystic fibrosis contain bacteria at an early stage. This bacteria can spread through the small airways, leading to the formation of bacterial microenvironments called biofilms. Biofilms are difficult for antibodies to penetrate, so bacteria repeatedly damage the lungs and gradually remodel the airways, making it difficult to eradicate the infection (Welsh, 1995). Cystic fibrosis patients may even have their airways chronically colonized by filamentous fungi and/or yeast. 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 mucus and do not develop properly. Additionally, women may experience complications during pregnancy. Let the center......the middle of the document......see as 7q31.2 (Welsh, 1995). Chronic illnesses can be very difficult to manage. Cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal recessive (non-sex linked) life-limiting disease among people of Caucasian origin. Although it is technically a rare disease, it is classified as one of the most common life-shortening genetic diseases. It is more common in countries in the Western world, with the exception of Finland, but it is also diagnosed between men and women. REFERENCESGenetics 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