To address the extent that mice lacking Chkb function display gross muscular dystrophy phenotypes, we assessed total lean and fat mass, as well as muscle function in Chkb+/+, Chkb+/− and Chkb−/− mice from 6 weeks to 20 weeks of age using a grip strength assay and a total distance run to exhaustion test. Here, CHKB is linked to muscular dystrophy.