Notably, in the diaphragm, a muscle group that is severely affected by DMD pathology (Duan et al., 2021), DWORF expression was significantly reduced in 30- to 55-month-old affected dogs in comparison with 8- to 13-month-old affected dogs (Fig. 4F-H), suggesting a progressive decline in expression as the disease advances. The gene discussed is STRIT1; the disease is Duchenne muscular dystrophy.