Becker muscular dystrophy

A chronic, progressive muscle degeneration disease. A form of muscular dystrophy that is quite similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, except that patients with Becker do produce some of the key protein, dystrophin, whereas those with Duchenne do not. Progression of the disease in Becker type is slower than in Duchenne, and symptoms may appear as late as the mid-twenties. Becker muscular dystrophy is a mild version of Duchenne. Both diseases result from mutations in the huge gene in region Xp21.2 on the X chromosome that encodes dystrophin. (The other principal form of X-linked, late-onset muscular dystrophy is Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, which results from mutation in the gene encoding emerin on Xq28.)

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Beck·er muscular dystrophy 'bek-ər- or Beck·er's muscular dystrophy -ərz- n a less severe form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with later onset and slower progression of the disease that is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait and is characterized by dystrophin of deficient or abnormal molecular weight Becker, P. E. 20th-century German human geneticist. Becker spent the earlier part of his career as a lecturer at the psychiatric and neurological clinic at the University of Freiberg. He went on to hold the post of Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Göttingen. He wrote numerous books and articles on human genetics, especially concerning hereditary myopathies and in particular myotonia. He was the first to recognize a benign X-linked recessive form of muscular dystrophy, publishing his first report in 1955.

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Beck·er muscular dystrophy (bekґər) [P.E. Becker] see under dystrophy.