In order to explore the role of diaphanous-related formins in the mammalian cochlea, we created a model of human AUNA1 deafness by establishing two lines of transgenic mice that overexpress Diap3. While FVB/NJ is an ideal background strain for developing a model of delayed-onset deafness, since it is resistant to age-related hearing loss [22], it is not a good model for study of the visual system. This evidence concerns the gene DIAPH3 and presbycusis.