Do both parents have to be cystic fibrosis carriers in order for a child to be born with this disease?

My son has a baby with a girl who is not his wife. The child has cystic fibrosis. I would like to leave the child in question money in my will, however it has been explained to me that both parents have to be a carrier of this diease in order for the child to be born with it . How would my son go about being tested as to whether or not he is a carrier? If he is not a carrier would we be wise in having DNA testing done to see if he has indeed fathered this child?

Before the answers to this question go off into the wrong direction, I would like to explain to Bec that my son and I openly talk about this situation. My concern is in the best interest for the child if indeed it is my grandchild. I'm not intefering, we are just trying to come up with a way to determine paternity without offending anyone. Sorry... you misunderstood

You are correct in your assumption that both parents must carry the recessive gene. It is impossible for the child to have CF if either parent was not a carrier.

Unfortunately, the genetic test used for CF testing is not specific for every mutation. If you are asking whether a CF test would/could determine paternity, I would have to tell you no, it would not. If your son had a mutation that did not show up on the CF genetic test, his result would appear normal (indicates he is not a carrier) when in fact he still may be.

The better course would be to submit a sample from the baby and a sample from your son and have a regular paternity test performed. The cost for a CF test is anywhere from $300 to $700 depending on the lab. Paternity tests cost approximately the same. I am sorry to hear that the baby has CF. The child is in for a long and arduous journey. Good luck to all of you.

Yes, it must come from both parents, but if both parents have the gene there is still a chance their child may not.

A private DNA test should ideally include samples from the child and BOTH parents, though if he wants it to be secret he can supply just his own and the child's samples, and this is still highly accurate. The fee is around 拢100, look in the net.

PS not being a carrier is enough to disprove paternity.

My best friend's sister-in-law and her husband both carried the gene for cystic fibrosis and their oldest son had the disease but their other children were fine. Talk to your Dr or get incontact with the Cystic Fibrosis Society . Maybe they can help you with information on testing and the like. Good luck.

I think it is caused by a recessive gene....so both parents need to be carriers of the gene. I suppose if you asked your Doctor how be could get tested he would be able to help, and I agree if he is not he carrier then he should have a paternity test.

Yes, both parents must be carriers. Sorry to hear about this.

Yes it is an autisomal recessive disease meaning the person needs two copies of the faulty gene in order to express the irregular phenotype (physical symptoms).

There does have to be both parents who are the carriers. You can have private DNA testing done, I am not sure how much something like that would cost.

The life span for someone with CF has really been extended due to all of the recent treatments for CF. However, the only "cure" for CF is a lung transplant.

I've got to tell you, it is very difficult to write about this subject more profoundly than one of the other writers on a site called Helium, Lauren Beyenhof, who actually has cystic fibrosis. I have recommended to my other friends who's lives have been touched by this disease to read what she has to say. She has great insight.

http://www.helium.com/tm/110065/cystic-f...

Yes they both have to be carriers as it is a recessive gene. There would be a one in four chance of a child having the disease.
I don't think you should interfere in your son's life - sorry, but that's what I think.

Most likely his health insurance (So Long as he has some) would cover a Blood test to see if he is a CF carrier.. Yes its true both parents need to have the recessive gene for their child to have CF. But you might as well just get a Paternity test done to see if he is the father. If he is then that already proves he is a carrier and eliminates a test down the road.