CFTR and cystic fibrosis: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive inherited lethal disease, with over two thousand different mutations on chromosome 7, which encodes the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, and mainly causes alterations in the transport of ions and water in cells of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and reproductive systems, as well as in sweat glands.(1)