Abstract: Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is a serious and destructive pest in soybean production worldwide and causes great yield loss every year. Planting resistant soybean cultivars has been an economical and effective method to decrease or avoid its damage. Studying the molecular genetics of the resistance to SCN is the basis for molecular breeding. Here, we review progress on the genetic mapping and gene cloning of cyst nematode resistance in soybean and discuss problems and prospects.