Human epilepsy is a common and heterogeneous condition in which genetics play an 
important etiological role. We begin by reviewing the past history of epilepsy 
genetics, a field that has traditionally included studies of pedigrees with 
epilepsy caused by defects in ion channels and neurotransmitters. We highlight 
important recent discoveries that have expanded the field beyond the realm of 
channels and neurotransmitters and that have challenged the notion that single 
genes produce single disorders. Finally, we project toward an exciting future 
for epilepsy genetics as large-scale collaborative phenotyping studies come face 
to face with new technologies in genomic medicine.