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Molecular mechanisms in the development of the cochlea The cochlea is the primary structure for the perception of sound. A spiraled cochlear duct contains the auditory organ, the organ of Corti, is innervated by sensory neurons of the spiral ganglion. The organ of Corti contains hair cells, the sensory receptors of the inner ear, that are responsible for the mechano-transduction of sound waves into electrical signals. The development of the cochlea is regulated by the cellular and molecular processes, including cochlear outgrowth, cellular differentiation, and patterning. The precise coordination of multiple processes during the transformation of a flat embryonic epithelium into the cellular mosaic of the adult structure requires a multitude of transcription factors and signaling pathways. These regulatory networks dictate cell fate and timing decisions during cochlear development. Interestingly, these mechanisms operate as well during sensory epithelial cell regeneration after damage and during stem cell directed differentiation, making developmental studies instrumental for improving therapies for hearing impairment.