In humans, multiple genes have been implicated in muscular dystrophy; in addition, in most cases, any specific gene is implicated in multiple forms of the disease. This report describes muscular dystrophy, Becker type, which is one of several forms of the disease associated with the human gene dystrophin (DMD). Information about fly models for this and related diseases can be found in the report "muscular dystrophy, dystrophin-related' (FBhh0000191).
[updated Mar. 2016 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
[MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, BECKER TYPE; BMD](https://omim.org/entry/300376)
[DYSTROPHIN; DMD](https://omim.org/entry/300377)
Both the Duchenne and Becker forms of muscular dystrophy are associated with cardiomyopathy, which typically begins in adolescence. Signs and symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy can include an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), shortness of breath, extreme tiredness (fatigue), and swelling of the legs and feet. These heart problems worsen rapidly and become life-threatening in many cases. [from Genetics Home Reference, Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy; 2016.03.11]
Muscular dystrophy, Becker type, is similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the distribution of muscle wasting and weakness, which is mainly proximal, but the course is more benign, with age of onset around 12 years; some patients have no symptoms until much later in life. Loss of ambulation also varies from adolescence onward, with death usually in the fourth or fifth decade. In some cases, as in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degree of mental impairment is present (Emery, 2002; pubmed:11879882). [from MIM:300376; 2016.03.11]
Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is caused by mutation in the gene encoding dystrophin (DMD); it shows an X-linked recessive pattern of inheritance. [from MIM:300376; 2016.03.11]
Many to one: 3 human to 1 Drosophila; there are two lower-scoring orthologs in human, UTRN and DRP2.
