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Science Mutations

Muscular Dystrophy Disorder                                      By Fraser Olson

 

Hi! I am a disease called muscular dystrophy disorder. I basically break down the muscles in the body.  So here is my life as a disorder (Yes, I am a bad THING but that is fine with me.) Anyway here is my life.

I started out in a boy named Joseph. When he was conceived there was a deformed X chromosome. Boys are X Y and girls are X X so boys need a X chromosome and a Y chromosome and girls need two X chromosomes. So for boys if that one X chromosome is damaged then it is too bad. There is nothing you can do but for girls, if one is damaged, there is another X chromosome that can compensate for the damaged X chromosome.

So right now I am hiding in Joseph’s X chromosome and I will reveal myself when Joseph is 2 1/2years old. For now I just have to hide. I have a plan for when I come out of hiding and it goes like this.

You see there are proteins that hold up the cell membrane and if they are gone then the cell membrane will collapse. So, when I come out of hiding I will stop the portions from producing in the cell. When the protein isn’t produced then the cell wall will collapse and there will be holes in the membrane. That means that some proteins will escape right out of the hole in the cell membrane and calcium will come into the cell.  

It is now Joseph’s 3rd birthday and everyone is singing happy birthday. While they are sitting on the couch watching the birthday boy lie on the ground they seem to notice that he is having trouble sitting up.

They take him to the doctor.  The doctor does three tests.  First he removes a small amount of muscle tissue and examines it.  Then the doctor does an DNA genetic exam.  Finally he does a blood enzyme test.  Guess what!  They found me!

 Quickly his parents started to take Joseph for all of the treatment that he should be doing like physio therapy to keep his health up and try to maintain his muscles. ( They can try all they want but they cant fight me)

By the age of six Joseph has trouble walking and feels very awkward. By 7 years old Joseph can barely keep up with his friends when walking or running. He has a waddling gait. His calves look muscular but they really aren’t. They are mostly fat and fibroids.  

By 8 years old everyday life becomes difficult and Joseph can’t sit up without help and  can barely get up from a chair. It is extremely difficult to walk. By 10 years old Joseph can’t walk any more because most of the muscle on him has deteriorated. Halfway through the year of being 10 Joseph is diagnosed with scoliosis and has to have surgery done. By 14 it was extremely hard for Joseph to bring his hand to his mouth. Joseph also has to have a machine to help him breath at night called a bi pap. Josephs functions will continue to deteriorate most people with muscular dystrophy don’t live to their early twenties. Aren’t I the life of the party?