Overview: the genetics of renal disease

Disease susceptibility and, to a certain extent, disease progression, in many renal disorders are determined by specific genetic factors. The Human Genome Project has generated an explosion of gene discovery tools and strategies. These new technologies are being applied to a wide range of renal disorders. The most significant impact to date has been the identification of disease-susceptibility genes for more than 20 monogenic renal disorders. This review summarizes the role of genetics in renal disease, the different modes of inheritance of disease-susceptibility genes, the strategies for gene discovery, and the clinical impact of disease gene identification.