Slashdot Mirror
Scientists Reverse Muscular Dystrophy In Dogs
Al writes "Scientists have taken a step toward developing a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) by successfully treating the condition in dogs using a novel genetic technique. The scientists used a method called exon skipping, which involves adding a genetic 'patch' to block transcription of a portion of the gene involved in DMD. This puts the remaining genetic sequence back in order, essentially creating a much less severe version of the condition. The scientists recorded some remarkable video footage showing the resulting improvements in several dogs with naturally-occurring DMD. More work is needed before the treatment can be given to humans, however, because DMD sufferers often have different genetic mutations."
I just found out that two nephews of three are positive for DMD. This basically confirms that my sister-in-law is a carrier. We're in the middle of trying to determine if my wife is a carrier, and thus if our two sons are at risk. To say the least this is a very stressful time in our lives, and there are no quick answers. However, seeing a big jump like this in treatment is great news.