Final answer:
Zoe's condition of cystic fibrosis suggests that she inherited two defective CFTR gene alleles, one from each of her parents, as both must be carriers for her to show symptoms of the disease. Explanation (a) is incorrect because inheriting one faulty allele would make her a carrier rather than affected by the illness. Proper cystic fibrosis management involves strategies like pulmonary rehabilitation and may eventually necessitate a lung transplant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zoe having cystic fibrosis indicates that she has inherited two faulty copies of the gene responsible for this condition, one from each parent. Since cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, to manifest the disease, an individual must inherit two defective alleles, one from the mother and one from the father. If only one parent passes on the faulty gene, while the other passes on a normal allele, the child would be a carrier of the gene, but typically would not exhibit symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
In the given scenario, explanation (a) stating that Zoe 'probably inherited one faulty allele from her father, who is a carrier, and one normal allele from her mother' is inaccurate because this would make Zoe a carrier as well, not someone who manifests the disease. For Zoe to have cystic fibrosis, both parents must have at least been carriers of the faulty CFTR gene allele, and she must have inherited the defective allele from each parent.
Therefore, advanced genetics understanding, breakthrough treatments, and proactive management of symptoms have enabled individuals with cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis management) to live longer, healthier lives despite the absence of a cure. This typically involves a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses lung infections (pulmonary rehabilitation) and preserves lung function as much as possible, sometimes leading to the need for a lung transplant in severe cases.