The possibility of generating the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe in an SO(10) gauge model with spontaneous symmetry breaking pattern [Formula: see text] is studied. We find it possible to generate a [Formula: see text], converting the leptonic number produced at the B- L breaking scale via the B+L violating processes mediated by sphalerons at the electroweak scale. The resulting picture is tested against the limit coming from experimental data: proton lifetime and neutrino oscillations.