New Ideas in Epilepsy Genetics

New ideas in epilepsy genetics: novel epilepsy genes, copy number alterations, and gene regulation.

The majority of genes associated with epilepsy syndromes to date are ion channel genes. Selection bias may have allowed us to establish their role in epilepsy based on a priori knowledge of the significance of these proteins in regulating neuronal excitability. There are, however, more than 3000 genes expressed at the synapse, as well as many other genes expressed nearby in supporting cells and...

Genetics in Epilepsy

Genetics and epilepsy

The term "epilepsy" describes a heterogeneous group of disorders, most of them caused by interactions between several or even many genes and environmental factors. Much rarer are the genetic epilepsies that are due to single-gene mutations or defined structural chromosomal aberrations, such as microdeletions. The discovery of several of the genes underlying these rare genetic epilepsies has alr...

Genetics of epilepsy.

The last decade has witnessed rapid advances in understanding the role of genetic factors in epilepsy. Mutations and chromosomal defects underlying many inherited symptomatic epilepsies have now been identified, and several genes have been associated with rare idiopathic epilepsies transmitted in a mendelian manner. However, the genetic factors underlying inherited susceptibility to idiopathic ...

Genetics of childhood epilepsy.

The epilepsies are a heterogeneous group of disorders with many causes. However, a genetic aetiology may be present in up to 40% of patients, and this proportion is even higher in epilepsy of childhood onset. The past decade has seen spectacular advances in our understanding of the genetics of epilepsy at a molecular level, and several comprehensive reviews are available. 3 It is apparent that ...