“The kidney inspires awe in all those who attempt to understand its functions.” This first sentence of chapter 2 of The genetics of renal disease perfectly captures the spirit of this book. Inherited renal disease is one of the most diverse, fascinating, and quickest growing areas of human genetics. Functional analyses of the genes associated with renal disease are leading to connections with many other scientific fields. For example, as is beautifully illustrated in colour plate 5 in this book, proteins now known to be directly involved in genetic renal disease are linked to the actin cytoskeleton, the …