Question

1. duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness. how could a mutated gene cause muscle weakness? (hint: think about what a gene is and how it could affect the muscles.)

Explanation:

Genes contain instructions for making proteins. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a mutated gene fails to produce functional dystrophin, a protein crucial for muscle - cell integrity. Without proper dystrophin, muscle cells are more easily damaged during contraction, leading to progressive muscle weakness over time.

Answer:

A mutated gene causes muscle weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy because it fails to produce functional dystrophin, a protein necessary for muscle - cell stability and function.