Final answer:
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited genetic disease caused by a mutation in the CFTR gene, resulting in the production of a faulty protein. Carriers of the mutant gene can pass it on to their offspring, and the disease follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. The persistence of the cystic fibrosis mutation in some populations may be due to a heterozygote advantage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cystic fibrosis is an example of a genetic noninfectious disease that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. It is caused by a mutation in a gene called CFTR, which results in the production of a faulty protein that leads to the accumulation of thick and sticky mucus in mucus-secreting organs like the lungs and intestines.
Carriers of the mutant CFTR gene can pass it on to their offspring. The inheritance pattern of cystic fibrosis is autosomal recessive, meaning that individuals must have two copies of the mutant gene to develop the disease.
The persistence of the cystic fibrosis mutation in some populations is thought to be due to a heterozygote advantage, where carriers of the mutant gene may have greater resistance to certain infectious diseases.