AIMS

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a fatal genetic disorder affecting boys. Finding a cure relies on dystrophic mice
• Dystrophic mice are notoriously difficult to breed and maintain using regular trios
• We have successfully practised alternative breeding schemes, of which one seems to overrun the others.
• We will rationally compare 4 breeding schemes to establish which one is best for reducing pup loss and producing cohorts of pups with uniform body weight
• Refining breeding conditions may reduce the number of bred animals by increasing birth rate and pup survival
• Data will be disseminated to the DMD community of researchers, clinicians, and patients