SO(10) Unified Theories and Cosmology

We review the status of a class of gauge unified models based on SO(10) group. After a pedagogical introduction to SO(10) gauge theories, we discuss the main phenomenological implications of these models. The upper limit on proton lifetime are obtained and the prediction for neutrino masses are compared with the astrophysical and cosmological constraints coming from solar neutrino data and dark matter problem. Possible scenarios for the production of the baryon asymmetry of the universe required by primordial nucleosynthesis are also discussed.