Cystic Fibrosis 2
Commonly found in young children, Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease that is caused by a genetic disorder. The disease originates in the production of a critical protein that transports chloride ions from one place to another called a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The DNA of an infected person is missing three building blocks called nucleotides causing the CFTR protein to be missing one amino acid called phenylalanine. Normally, a healthy CFTR protein would be synthesized and then moved through the endoplasmic reticulum and golgi apparatus to pick up sugars before being released to the cell membrane. However, a defective CFTR protein does not leave the endoplasmic reticulum and is tagged for degradation. Other times the defective CFTR gene does not allow the protein to be created. Whether or not the CFTR protein is produced, the diseased person does not get the CFTR protein needed to transport chloride ions. As a result, a number of symptoms and ultimately death occur. At first, an increase in sal
At this time, treatments for cystic fibrosis are crude and do not ensure that the patient will live past his or her early adulthood. For the affected organs, like the pancreas, scientists have developed a drug that will unclog the blocked passageways, so that the enzymes and other essential substances can flow to where they are needed. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are being used to control bacterial infections and inflammations caused by immune system cells. Treatment for clogged air passageways remains quite medieval. Chest percussion, pounding on the chest to dislodge and expel the mucus, is common practice. In addition, a drug called DNase is used to liquefy and clear the mucus. A healthy lung transplant can only replace the damaged lung. Smith, Michael J. and Alan E. Smith, "Cystic Fibrosis", Scientific American, Dec. 1995. However, the future of cystic fibrosis treatment is quite bright. Besides premature screening of the parent-to-be, scientists are trying to develop a method that would prevent cystic fibrosis before it starts.
Some common words found in the essay are:
CFTR DNA, Cystic Fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, cftr protein, chloride ions, Fibrosis Commonly, endoplasmic reticulum, cftr proteins, American Dec, cell membrane, clogged thick mucus, healthy cftr, diseased person, chloride ions sodium, ions sodium, thick mucus,
Approximate Word count = 713
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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