Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant alpha subunit of a mammalian voltage-gated sodium channel, wherein a mutation event selected from the group consisting of point mutations, deletions, insertions and rearrangements has occurred and said mutation event disrupts the functioning of an assembled sodium channel comprising this mutated subunit so as to produce an epilepsy phenotype, with the proviso that the mutation event is not a C2624T transition or a G4943A transition.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant alpha subunit of a mammalian voltage-gated sodium channel, wherein a mutation event selected from the group consisting of point mutations, deletions, insertions and rearrangements has occurred and said mutation event disrupts the functioning of an assembled sodium channel comprising this mutated subunit so as to produce an epilepsy phenotype, polypeptides encoded by said nucleic molecule and uses of these molecules in preparing animal models and in diagnostic applications

Abstract: An isolated mammalian DNA molecule encoding a mutant ?-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor subunit, wherein a mutation event selected from the group consisting of point mutations, deletions, insertions and rearrangements has occurred and said mutation event disrupts the functioning of an assembled GABAA receptor, or an otherwise functional fragment or homologue thereof.

Abstract: A method of identifying a subject predisposed to a disorder associated with ion channel dysfunction, comprising ascertaining whether at least one of the genes encoding ion channel subunits in said subject has undergone a mutation event such that a cDNA derived from said subject has the sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-134.