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Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Screening - What Causes Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder. A child must inherit two defective CF genes (one defective gene from each parent) to have the disease.
A person who has inherited only one defective CF gene is a carrier of cystic fibrosis and does not have the disease but can pass it on to his or her children. This person can also pass on carrier status.
- If only one parent is a carrier of a defective CF gene, the child will not have CF. But there is a 50% (1-in-2) chance that the child will be a CF carrier.
- If both parents are carriers, there is a 25% (1-in-4) chance that the child will have CF, but a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
June 26, 2007
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Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Screening
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It’s natural to call the doctor if you think your child is sick. But do you really need to call every time? Not every sniffle is as serious as you may think.
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