DMD gene

The DMD gene provides instructions for making a protein called dystrophin, which is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of muscle cells. Without functional dystrophin, muscle fibers become fragile and more susceptible to damage, leading to progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue. Mutations in the DMD gene cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe genetic disorder predominantly affecting boys, characterized by muscle degeneration beginning in early childhood. The gene's critical role in muscle health makes it a focus for research into treatments for muscular dystrophy.