Duplication of others stretches of DNA in humans are implicated in the development disorders spinal muscular atrophy and Prader-Willi syndrome.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Reading the chimp book of life

Arya had spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, a progressive and fatal disease in which the nerves that control the muscles slowly waste away.

FORBES: For Arya

Spinal muscular atrophy is beset by most of these disadvantages.

FORBES: For Arya

But Lady Campbell has a severe form of spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that means she uses a wheel chair and is reliant on a ventilator to breathe for much of the day.

BBC: Baroness makes a little bit of history

Claire Holdcroft is an outreach worker for the Jennifer Trust, which works with families affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) - a neuromuscular disease from which babies can die within the first days of life.

BBC: Parents 'refused genetic tests'

Moreover, while the patient base for Duchenne may be too small to spark a billion-dollar drug, the PTC chemical could work against similar underlying gene flaws in other disorders such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and spinal muscular atrophy.

FORBES: Stopping the Nonsense

Cathy Ludlum, of Manchester, a disabled-rights activist who has spinal muscular atrophy, said she is concerned the Public Health Committee has decided to hold the public hearing and worries the issue of doctor-assisted suicide will not go away soon.

WSJ: Assisted suicide on legal agenda in several states