Simply put, genetics is all about how similar a child is to its parents. The forms associated with the autosomal dominant pathway are facioscapulohumeral, myotonic, oculopharyngeal and distal. Limb-girdle and congenital forms of MD are passed down through the autosomal recessive pathway. This knowledge allows scientists to study the effects of abnormal genes on the muscles, and hopefully, in the long run, to find a cure. This genetic information can help anyone who may have the disease, or is related to someone who does, make informed decisions about family planning.
Assistance is available through testing and genetic counseling .
Some progress has been made, but a vast gulf still separates us from any substantive cures. In 1990, the gene responsible for FSH MD was found to be on the end of chromosome four. British researchers in 1992 found the defective gene for Mytonic MD to be on chromosome 19. This gene fails to produce the protein kinase which is important in membrane function of muscle and other organs. People affected with HMSN I have been found to have an an extra section of chromosome 17 that creates defects in myelin formation.