Duchene Muscular Dystrophy

Duchene muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that affects muscles. It was first discovered by a French neurologist named Guillanme Benjamin Amand Duchenne in the 1860s. The symptoms are unusual walking or running at around the age of 3. There are also generalized weaknesses and muscles wasting first affecting hips, pelvis, thigh, and shoulders. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disorder. But patients can take physical therapy so they can remain fit. Most kids with the disorder die with it before their thirties. About 1 out of 3600 male infants have the disorder and mostly males get the disorder. Duchene muscular dystrophy is caused by missing genes that are needed to make proteins in order to build and maintain healthy muscles. To develop new treatments researchers have to learn more about what causes this disorder. I believe that this disorder can be treated. In the future we can find a cure and save many lives.

The websites I used were:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html
http://www.yourgenesyourhealth.org/dmd/whatisit.html
http://www.genome.gov/19518854
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070129164916AAs1WL1