Research Paper On Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD is caused by a mutation of a gene on the X chromosome that causes an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. This very rare disease primarily affects young boys. Its symptoms include muscle weakness which can begin as early as the age of 3, first affecting the voluntary muscles such as the hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulders, and by the early teens the involuntary muscles are affected such as the heart and lungs. There is no cure for this disorder. Boys affected by DMD did not survive beyond their teenage years until recently. Due to advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life