The pluripotent epiblast cells in the early embryo are destined to form both the somatic cells and primordial germ cells. In the few cells that undergo specification to establish the germ cell lineage, there is repression of the somatic programme. Recent evidence shows that, Blimp1, a known transcriptional repressor with a SET/PR domain, is crucial for the specification of primordial germ cells (PGC). Blimp1 has the role, at least in part, of suppressing the somatic programme. To cite this article: M.A. Surani, C. R. Biologies 330 (2007).