Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy are names for the same disorder caused by genetic mutations in the DMD gene. It is inherited. This means that your risk is increased if your mother has the disease or has a mutation in the DMD gene causing this disorder. This disorder is passed down through the X-chromosome from mother to son. The family member does not have to have the disorder in order to put you at risk since it is possible for a woman to be a carrier. This means that she has no symptoms but has the genetic mutation that she can pass on to her children. Sometimes the disease may skip a generation (no family members appear to be affected), so if you have any family members with the disorder, you may be at an increased risk.
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