Researchers fight genetic killer of infants and toddlers

Researchers at the University of Utah are making strides in understanding and combating a motor neuron disease known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The spinal muscular atrophies are a group of inherited diseases that cause progressive degeneration of motor nerves resulting in muscle weakness. The most common form of the disorder, due to the deletion of a critical gene on chromosome 5, is currently the leading cause of inherited infant and child mortality. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the second-most common autosomal-recessive inherited disorder after cystic fibrosis. Approximately 1 in 40 carry the gene for this disease.

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