1. The dissection of the genetic components of common complex diseases, such as hypertension, represents a major investigational challenge. The use of inbred experimental animal models of the disease represents a time-honoured approach to reducing the difficulty of this task. 2. Recent progress in molecular genetics has raised expectations that the application of powerful new techniques to established animal models of hereditary hypertension may provide important new insights into the genetic basis of human hypertension and perhaps direct access to genes involved in human hypertension. 3. These methods provide exciting opportunities, but to recognize their full potential will require the revision of many traditional and established strategies used in hypertension research. There can be little doubt that these methods, if applied wisely, will make an important contribution to our understanding of hypertension as a disease that is the result of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. 4. Whether the applicability of results obtained in experimental animals is primarily conceptual, furthering our understanding primarily of disease mechanisms, or whether newly recognized disease-relevant genes will directly identify their human homologues as being involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension in humans cannot be predicted with certainty. Either possibility fully justifies efforts and resources directed into the application of molecular genetic research to experimental animal models.