CFTR Channel Simulation

Explore how a single gene mutation causes cystic fibrosis with the CFTR Channel Simulation from PEEBEDU. Choose maternal and paternal alleles for the CFTR gene, selecting between the normal wild-type sequence and the deltaF508 mutation, and watch the central dogma unfold as DNA is transcribed into mRNA and translated into protein. See how deleting three nucleotides removes a single amino acid, causing the CFTR chloride channel protein to misfold and fail to reach the cell membrane. Run the simulation across all three genotypes to compare chloride ion flow, water movement, and mucus buildup in real time. Activate the cholera challenge to discover why carriers of the deltaF508 mutation lose less water through their intestinal cells, revealing the surprising reason this harmful allele has persisted in human populations for thousands of years.