Final answer:
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and death of muscle cells and tissues. It is caused by defective proteins in muscle cells. Examples include Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and death of muscle cells and tissues. It is caused by defective proteins in muscle cells. For example, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by a lack of the protein dystrophin, which leads to muscle fiber degradation and functional impairments over time.