Lamins are structural protein components of the nuclear lamina, a protein network underlying the inner nuclear membrane that determines nuclear shape and size. There are three types of lamins, A,B and C. The lamin A/C (LMNA) gene contains 12 exons. Alternative splicing within exon 10 gives rise to two different mRNAs that code for pre-lamin A and lamin C. Lamin A/C mapped to 1q21.2-q21.3 and mutations in this gene cause a variety of human diseases including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Lamin A/C deficiency is thus associated with both defective nuclear mechanics and impaired mechanically activated gene transcription.