IDD leads to a series of changes in tissue physiology, morphology, and biomechanics, including ECM remolding, loss of collagen and aggrecan, increased cell senescence and death, and decreased water content and disc height (Antoniou et al., 1996; Roughley, 2004; Roberts et al., 2006). The gene discussed is ACAN; the disease is intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.