We recently found that p53Δ31/Δ31 mice, expressing a mutant p53 lacking its C-terminal domain, die rapidly after birth with a complete set of features of the telomere syndrome DC, including aplastic anaemia, pulmonary fibrosis, oral leukoplakia, skin hyperpigmentation, nail dystrophy and short telomeres2. Here, TP53 is linked to dyskeratosis congenita.