Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an x-linked recessive disorder, and is therefore more common among boys. DMD is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, affecting about 1/3500 of boys. Patients with muscular dystrophy do not properly express the protein dystrophin, which is essential for muscle function. The muscles of DMD patients become weaker over time because their muscle fibers are replaced with fat and scar tissue instead of satellite cells. There is currently no cure for DMD, but scientists are experimenting with new treatments, many of which involve using stem cells and the alteration of the patient's DNA. This relates to what we learned about genetic inheritance since it is a genetic disorder and it also relates to the structure of cells and proteins because the mitochondria of patients with DMD don't function properly and do not express the protein dystrophin correctly. People with DMD are not able to live a normal life because they are unable to perform normal activities, such as walking and later on, eating. For this reason, DMD patients need extensive daily care.
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