Duke researchers find novel way to repair gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duke researchers find novel way to repair gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Using a novel genetic 'editing' technique, Duke University biomedical engineers have been able to repair a defect responsible for one of the most common inherited disorders, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in cell samples from Duchenne patients.

Instead of the common gene therapy approach of adding new genetic material to "override" the faulty gene, the Duke scientists have developed a way to change the existing mutated gene responsible for the disorder into a normally functioning gene.The Duke researchers believe their approach could be safer and more stable than current methods of gene therapy.