A human cDNA probe of the tumour protein p53 (TP53) was used to localize the homologous porcine gene by in situ hybridization. The gene was mapped to chromosome 12q12-q14. Together with already known mapping data, these results confirm the localization of an evolutionary conserved linkage group on porcine chromosome 12 which is localized in man on chromosome 17, in cattle on chromosome 19, and in mice on chromosome 11.