Epilepsy genetics.
Genetics have for a long time been suspected of playing an important role in idiopathic generalized epilepsy. The last decade has seen the discovery of several genes underlying epilepsy transmitted in a Mendelian fashion. Among these are genes causing recessive neurodevelopmental disorders complicated by seizures. In addition, several genes, mainly coding for ion channels, have been identified in rare families exhibiting a wide variety of idiopathic epilepsy phenotypes. The next decade will likely reveal whether these or related genes also act as susceptibility factors for sporadic epilepsy.
Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. d.kullmann@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Dimitri M
DM
Kullmann
D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans