CFTR and hereditary disease: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life shortening genetic disorder in Caucasians, and occurs in 1 in 3200 Caucasians in the U.S. [1] Since the identification of the CF gene in 1989 [2], over 1500 mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) have been associated with CF.