Question

How can the nurse clarify the way in which the cystic fibrosis (CF) disease was inherited?

1) It is a mutated gene.
2) It involves an X-linked gene.
3) The inheritance is autosomal recessive.
4) The inheritance is autosomal dominant.

Answer 1

Cystic fibrosis is inherited through an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning a child must inherit two copies of the mutated CFTR gene to develop the disease. Both parents must be carriers for this to occur, and the chance of passing the disease to their child is 25% if both carry one mutation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse can clarify the way in which cystic fibrosis (CF) disease was inherited by explaining that the inheritance is autosomal recessive. This means that both parents must be carriers of the mutated CFTR gene for a child to be born with the condition. If both parents carry one copy of the mutated gene and one normal gene, they each have a 25% chance of passing on both mutated genes, resulting in a child with cystic fibrosis. Those with only one copy of the mutated gene are considered carriers and do not exhibit symptoms of CF but can pass the gene to their offspring. The CFTR gene is located on chromosome 7 and is not linked to the X chromosome; thus, it does not involve an X-linked gene.