Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic condition caused by a lack of dystrophin (a protein which keeps the muscle cells intact) that leads to gradual muscle degeneration and weakness. It occurs because of a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome that produces dystrophin. Therefore, males have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation and being affected by the disease, while females have a 50% chance of inheriting the flawed gene and being a carrier. The first symptoms of DMD are generally experienced in early childhood at the age of 2-3 years. The disorder first starts in the muscles of the pelvic region, hips, thighs, and shoulders, later affecting the skeletal muscles in the legs, arms, and trunk. By the time the patient reaches their teenage years, the respiratory and cardiac muscles are also affected. In terms of life expectancy, with recent advancements in respiratory and cardiac care, survival into the early 30s has now become more common. 

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