Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease meaning it is caused by a persons genes it affects the glands that produce mucus and sweat causing mucus to become thick and sticky as the mucus builds up . Cystic fibrosis also known as cf or mucoviscidosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder affecting most critically the lungs and also the pancreas liver and intestine. A person with cystic fibrosis inherits one cf gene from each parent cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by inheriting a pair of genes that are mutated or not working properly the cystic fibrosis gene everyone inherits two copies of the cftr cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene however some of the inherited copies are mutations to date over 700 mutations of the cftr gene have been identified a person with cf inherits two mutated copies of the cftr gene . Explained 60 seconds youtube in people with cystic fibrosis a defective gene causes a thick sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs and other organs the mucus clogs the airways and traps in