Cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal, inherited disease found in humans [4] and characterized by buildup of thick, sticky mucus, particularly in the respiratory and digestive tracts. The abnormally thick mucus prevents the pancreas from functioning normally; it often leads to digestive problems and chronic lung infections. Cystic fibrosis is most prevalent in Caucasian individuals, and approximately 1 in every 29 individuals in the US is a carrier for the mutated CF gene. There are an estimated 30,000 reported cystic fibrosis [5] cases in the US, and 70,000 reported cases worldwide, although the international number is undoubtedly low due to underreporting or early deaths.