This document relates to methods and materials for assessing and / or treating a
mammal (e.g., a human) having, or at risk of developing, a spinal condition (e.g.,
spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)). In some cases, a
mammal can be identified as having, or as being likely to develop, a spinal condition (e.g., SMA), and, optionally, can be treated. For example, a
mammal can be identified as having, or as being likely to develop, a spinal condition (e.g., SMA), based, at least in part, on the modification of
nucleic acid that can
encode a survival
motor neuron (SMN) polypeptide (e.g., homozygous deletion of
exon 7 of SMN1
nucleic acid encoding a SMN polypeptide and the genomic copy number of SMN2
nucleic acid encoding a SMN polypeptide) in a sample from a mammal and, optionally, can be treated.