One in every 5,000 boys born suffers from the crippling muscle-wasting illness DMD, which is known to be caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene. Typically, those who have the illness only survive into their 20s or 30s.
Mutations in the gene that encodes for dystrophins have been linked to the devastating muscle-wasting illness DMD, which affects one out of every 5,000 boys born. Individuals with the illness usually live only into their 20s or 30s.