Functionally, it is less clear what sort of effect these 7 amino acids have on differences between human and dog/mouse/cat DMD models – though their location in humans, coupled with the frequency of deleterious mutations in this region, strongly suggests they may play a critical role in the normal function of dystrophin, such as that of a “shock absorber” or force transducer. Here, DMD is linked to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.