Which of the following is true regarding the inheritance of cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. When both parents are carriers of the recessive gene for cystic fibrosis, they can pass this gene on to their children. For a child to be affected by cystic fibrosis, they must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent. This means that if both parents are carriers, each child has a 25% chance of inheriting the disorder, a 50% chance of being a carrier like the parents, and a 25% chance of being unaffected.

This understanding is key, as it highlights that both parents play a crucial role in the inheritance of this condition, which is why the assertion that both parents must carry the recessive trait is correct in the context of cystic fibrosis. The other options do not reflect the genetic mechanisms involved with cystic fibrosis: the disorder does not follow an autosomal dominant pattern, it can be inherited from either parent, and it can affect individuals of any gender.