Can you carry the defective gene but not suffer from disease cystic fibrosis?

Yes, it is possible to carry the defective gene for cystic fibrosis but not suffer from the disease. This is known as being a carrier.

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, meaning that both copies of the gene must be defective in order for the disease to develop. Carriers have only one copy of the defective gene and one copy of the normal gene. They do not have cystic fibrosis themselves, but they can pass the defective gene on to their children.

If a carrier has children with someone who also carries the defective gene, there is a 25% chance that each child will have cystic fibrosis, a 50% chance that each child will be a carrier, and a 25% chance that each child will be unaffected.