Objectives: To summarize the current data suggesting that Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is inherited and genetic. Methods: The extant literature on family studies, segregation analyses, candidate genes studies and linkage studies of GTS was reviewed and summarized. Results and conclusions: There is considerable data that suggests that: (1) genetic factors play an important role in the manifestation of GTS; (2) several genes are important with some possibly having major effect; and (3) several regions of the genome have been identified as potential locations of these susceptibility genes.