Which rare bone disease is traced to faulty FOP gene?
The mystery surrounding a rare bone disease called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) has been resolved following the identification of a mutant gene// linked to the disease. It is this gene that triggers the formation of a second skeleton, making movement impossible. Nearly 2500 individuals are believed to be afflicted with the disease, worldwide. As the disease progresses, the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and plates of bones are imprisoned in the second skeleton, for the entire life. The disease that occurs in early childhood has no proper available treatment. The identification of this mutant FOP gene could eventually pave for development of novel treatment techniques to treat the disease. Additionally, it might provide important clues about effective treatment of head injuries, spinal trauma and sports injuries. The researchers at Penn’s Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders were involved in 15 years of hard work to analyze the genetic constitution of the famili
