The TGFβ superfamily in stem cell biology and early mammalian embryonic development

► The molecular mechanism of TGFβ signaling in stem cell controlling pluripotency. ► Molecular events driven by TGFβ family/SMAD signaling to cell fate determination. ► Integration of the TGFβ pathway with the core pluripotency transcription factors. ► Open questions on the crossroad of stem cell biology and the TGFβ pathway.