4.Now, the fact that both Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy result from mutations in the same dystrophin gene means that they are " allelic disorders, "
5.Within that group, dystrophinopathies are the most common, which includes Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, and Becker muscular dystrophy, both of which result from mutations in the dystrophin gene.
6.In addition to those two, genetic mutations in other genes are responsible for several dozen other muscular dystrophies, some of which code for proteins that form a protein complex with dystrophin protein.
7.Now if this inactivation's random, you'd expect about half of the female's cells to have a functional dystrophin gene and the other half to have a defective dystrophin gene, and these people are typically asymptomatic.
8.Having said that, if more cells end up with the defective dystrophin gene, and less with the functional one, they can end up being " manifesting carriers, " meaning that they manifest or show some symptoms.
9.Later symptoms include needing a wheelchair because of severe weakness, developing respiratory failure because of a weak diaphragm, scoliosis, and developing dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias since the dystrophin protein is also expressed in heart muscle.