The research history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) may be roughly divided into 3 phases: clinical describing (1836-1985), molecular diagnosis and exploratory therapy (1985-2020), and the pathogenesis illuminating, gene therapy or treatment against the pathogenesis (2020-). During 1836-1985, doctors described the variation of medical history, clinical signs and symptoms, pathology, biochemistry, and genetic regularity of DMD. During 1985-2020, the scientists set up molecular diagnostic methods and exploratory therapy regimens of DMD. After 2020, some gene therapies, for example, the regimens of exon skipping and reading through, may be used in clinical practice.