The present volume contains the edited transcript of a collo quium sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and held at Mountain Shadows Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona, December 14-16, 1981. The participants, geneticists, molecular biologists, bio chemists and clinicians, explored in open dialogue ways and means of identifying and characterizing the genetic alterations responsible for X-linked muscular dystrophies, especially the Duchenne type. The clinicians, who urged the use of properly diagnosed and documented case material for study, emphasized the troublesome fact that the primary phenotypic expression of the gene (or genes) involved in the muscular dystrophies is yet to be identified. Discussions centered on the applicability of recent methodol ogical advances in DNA chemistry and molecular biology, cytogenetics and cell biology to mapping the X chromosome. Despite ignorance of the basic disorder in the muscular dystrophies, DNA technologies and chromosome mapping strategies for the discovery of genetic defects and phenotypic expressions were proposed. Beyond its stimulating intellectual exchange, the colloquium yielded important benefits. The participants agreed to share needed cell lines and endonuclease restriction enzymes and to organize interlaboratory communication and collaborative efforts to accelerate progress in the quest for the genetic lesion in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, edited and to some extent, rearranged to fit into a sequence of chapters. The editors are grateful to Joy Colarusso Lowe whose unusual skill, patience and persistence made it possible to convert a highly specialized technical discussion into a coherent manuscript.
