p53 (or tp53) is a gene vital to many forms of life, including humans. It codes for a protein which suppresses cancer. It has been called "the guardian of the genome".[1]
The p53 gene is the most frequently mutated gene (>50%) in human cancer.[2] Its protein product binds to DNA and regulates gene expression to prevent mutations of the genome.[3]
p53 protein (TP53) is at low levels in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).[4] This allows the most important cell division to proceed rapidly.