What causes Duchenne?
Duchenne is caused by a change to a gene which provides the instructions for the production of the protein called 'dystrophin'. This genetic change is often referred to as a ‘mutation’. As a result very little or no dystrophin protein is produced. Dystrophin protein normally protects muscle cells from damage and without it the muscle cells deteriorate and the symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy develop.
The genetic mutation that causes Duchenne is either:
passed down through the family (inherited), or
caused by a new genetic change that occurs in the child.
This new genetic change is known as a ‘spontaneous mutation’ and this happens in more than one third of Duchenne cases. The genetic change occurs very early in development - in the egg that is fertilised at the beginning of a pregnancy. This means that all of the cells in the body contain the mutation.