common genetic disease

Cystic fibrosis continues to be a lethal disease for humans despite the identification of the problematic gene two decades ago.

Many humans born with CF -- the most common genetic disease in Caucasians -- often die because of a lung disease developed later.

Scientists have been unable to develop an animal model that develops the fatal lung disease. Now, one researcher is producing pigs born with cystic fibrosis that mimic the exact symptoms of a newborn with CF.

A family of small molecules called CFTR inhibitors show promising effects in slowing the progression of polycystic kidney disease, the most common genetic disease of the kidneys.

Patients with PKD develop cysts on the kidneys, which progressively increase in size and number.