Xavier recently had a genetics unit in his freshmen biology class and the textbook example for a recessive trait Punnett square was...CF! He laughed later telling me that his classmates (who largely may not know he has CF) were impressed with his quick understanding of percentages and likelihood that a person might have CF and or be a carrier in different situations.
CF is a genetic recessive disease, meaning a person must inherit a CF mutation from each parent to have CF. Since the CF gene was initially discovered in 1989, over 1,800 CF mutations have been identified. 1 in 29 people are carriers of a CF mutation, but neither Matt nor I were aware we were carriers until Lucie was diagnosed. We now know that I carry the DF508 mutation, the most common CF mutation, and Matt carries the R117H mutation.
With each pregnancy from two parents who are CF carriers, there is a 25% chance of CF, 50% chance of a CF carrier, and 25% of no CF mutations.
To learn more on the basics of CF genetics, read this from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
How did you get that? The very basics of CF genetics...
Ha! Lydia showed off her knowledge in biology this year also, thanks to knowing your family 😜