Indeed, interventions leading to complete rescue of MNs in the spinal cord of mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) ALS mice were not sufficient to halt axonal loss and motor phenotype, suggesting that mechanisms of central, and peripheral degeneration may be at least partially independent (Gould et al., 2006; Rouaux et al., 2007; Suzuki et al., 2007). The gene discussed is SOD1; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.