Cystic Fibrosis – Are You A Carrier Of Cystic Fibrosis?

There are some certain chronic diseases that able to be prevented if we are able to identify the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene from DNA. Nonetheless, cystic fibrosis causes to release substantial amounts of mucous that clog the lungs that lead to malfunctioning of the healthy lungs over period of time.

The prolong symptoms of this disease will affect other parts of the body such as liver and intestine that disrupt the digestion and absorption processes which claims lives of several CF sufferers.

The big deal about cystic fibrosis – How do we know that we might have (or not) the CF genes in our body?

We might think that chance of getting CF is similar to the chance of winning a jackpot or first-prize lucky draw – that’s quite true!

One of the methods of diagnose CF is DNA testing or genetic testing. It is possible to diagnose CF carrier as well as to confirm a person who is carrying mutated CF gene that shows no symptoms of CF but it can be inherited to his/her child – when a child contains two copies of mutated CF gene that shows the impact on the child’s health.

 

In short, a child will only have CF when he/she contains two copies of defective CF genes. Males have more chances to have CF compared to females. Normally, females are CF carriers because they carry only one copy of CF mutated gene instead of two. In other words, a CF carrier does not show any symptoms of CF will get positive test results for CF gene mutation.

For more information about cystic fibrosis carrier genetic test, click here for details.

Retail DNA Test identifies your risk for disease. “Invention of the Year” (TIME Magazine)

Written by J.J. Yong on August 31st, 2007 with no comments.
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The Basics And Importance Of DNA

Humans have something in common – DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) which is secretively hidden in our chromosomes. Since DNA is a type of nucleic acids which is made of from millions of nucleotides. Nucleotide is a basic unit of building a long strand of DNA – just like building a house; the basic units are the bricks, concretes and etc.

What is so mysterious about DNA?

Since it’s a small structure with approximately 2.2 – 2.6 nanometers wide, it contains a genetic code that can be deciphered to unveiled the secrets of our body. Advances in DNA technology enable us to unlock the secrets of our body as to search for the meaning of mankind.

You look like your mom…you’d got the eyes just like your father…you’re as strong as your uncle…

These traits can be explained as it is related to genes – genetic information that inherited from our parents – possibly contains sub-information about our ancestors. DNA can be treated as our entity – a living proof that makes us adapting to all sorts of surroundings.

This represents how humans are enabling to survive since human population had reached more than 6.6 billion as recorded on July 2007.

How do we look different among each other?

All of us differ to the type DNA – means that each of us has DNA which has different genetic information except individual twins who has identical DNA. People often being mislead by assuming fingerprint is similar to DNA.

Actually, humans have their own distinctive fingerprints and DNA but individual twins have different fingerprints. However, differences of DNA among races based on their appearances (phenotypic traits) have yet able to be distinguished as we need more time and effort to map and identify common distinctive traits at the DNA level.

Written by J.J. Yong on August 28th, 2007 with no comments.
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