Final answer:
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that causes progressive weakening of the skeletal muscles. It is characterized by the degeneration and loss of muscle mass. One type of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which is caused by a lack of the protein dystrophin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscular dystrophy is a progressive degeneration and weakening of the skeletal muscles. It is a genetic disorder caused by defective proteins in muscle cells. Without sufficient proteins, muscles become increasingly unable to contract, resulting in muscle weakness and functional impairments. One type of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which is caused by a lack of the protein dystrophin. Over time, as muscle damage accumulates, muscle mass is lost and greater impairments develop.