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Muscular Dystrophy : A Group Of Genetic Diseases

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Abstract
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic diseases in which the voluntary muscles are affected. MD causes weakness and degeneration of muscles progressively overtime. It is most common in young males; but in rare cases it can occur in females. MD is caused by mutations on the X-chromosome gene that prevents the body from producing an essential muscle protein called dystrophy, in which without it muscles weaken (Leung & Wagner, 2013). There are 9 major types of MD, which include Becker, Emery-Dreifuss, Myotonic, Facioscapulohumeral, Congenital, Oculopharyngeal, Distal, Limb-girdle, and the most common Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) (CDC, 2016). DMD is caused by the mutation of x-linked recessive inheritance, in which this is …show more content…

PT is a crucial aspect for treatment because it allows greater range of motion in affected joints and muscles, and improves quality and even sometimes length of life (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2016).

Muscular Dystrophy Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a group of many genetic diseases that affects many people and results in weakening and degenerating of skeletal muscles. The word dystrophy comes from the Greek word “dys” which stands for difficulty, and the word “troph” which stand for nourish (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2013). There are an estimated 30 inherited disorders which are a result of gene mutations, and those genes mutation specifically change the DNA sequence of the affected child (Leung & Wagner, 2013). As it is known, each child inherits 23 chromosomes from each parent, in which each pair is similar to each other; except for one pair which is the sex chromosome. The males inherit an X chromosome from mother and a Y chromosome from father, the daughters inherit an X chromosome from each parent. Muscular Dystrophy can be affected in this sex chromosome and this is where the gene mutation occurs. Due to this, there is three different types of ways that muscular dystrophies can be inherited. First is by autosomal dominant inheritance, which is when the mutated or affected gene comes from only one parent (NHS, 2015). In this factor, both females and males have the same

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