developmental process involved in reproduction programmed cell death involved in cell development ectopic germ cell programmed cell death programmed cell death, ectopic germ cells programmed cell death of ectopic germ cells GO:0035234 biological_process Programmed cell death of an errant germ line cell that is outside the normal migratory path or ectopic to the gonad. This is an important mechanism of regulating germ cell survival within the embryo.