Which option best describes cystic fibrosis?

Which option best describes cystic fibrosis?

• A. A bacterial infection of the lungs due to a single pathogen.
• B. A genetic condition causing daily headaches and dry eyes.
• C. A genetic disorder in which thick, sticky mucus builds up in the lungs and digestive tract, especially the pancreas.
• D. An autoimmune condition affecting the joints.

Answer: (C)

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene that disrupt chloride transport in epithelial cells. This dysfunction makes mucus in the lungs and digestive tract thick and sticky, leading to airway obstruction, recurrent lung infections, and pancreatic insufficiency that impairs digestion. It’s inherited when an individual has two mutated copies of the gene, one from each parent. This description fits best because it centers on the genetic cause and the resulting thick mucus affecting the lungs and pancreas. The other statements describe conditions that are not characteristic of CF: a single-pathogen bacterial infection is not the cause, daily headaches and dry eyes aren’t defining features, and an autoimmune joint disease is unrelated to CF’s primary mechanisms.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene that disrupt chloride transport in epithelial cells. This dysfunction makes mucus in the lungs and digestive tract thick and sticky, leading to airway obstruction, recurrent lung infections, and pancreatic insufficiency that impairs digestion. It’s inherited when an individual has two mutated copies of the gene, one from each parent.

This description fits best because it centers on the genetic cause and the resulting thick mucus affecting the lungs and pancreas. The other statements describe conditions that are not characteristic of CF: a single-pathogen bacterial infection is not the cause, daily headaches and dry eyes aren’t defining features, and an autoimmune joint disease is unrelated to CF’s primary mechanisms.