Recent advances in the genetics of epilepsy: Insights from human and animal studies

Progress in understanding the genetics of epilepsy is proceeding at a dizzy ing pace. Due in large part to rapid progress in molecular genetics, gene d efects underlying many of the inherited epilepsies have been mapped, and se veral more are likely to be added each year. In this review, we summarize t he available information on the genetic basis of human epilepsies and epile psy syndromes, and correlate these advances with rapidly expanding informat ion about the mechanisms of epilepsy gained from both spontaneous and trans genic animal models. We also provide practical suggestions for clinicians c onfronted with families in which multiple members are afflicted with epilep sy.