Morpholino phosphorodiamidate antisense oligonucleotides ( MOs) and short interfering RNAs ( siRNAs) are commonly used platforms to study gene function by sequence- specific knockdown. Both technologies, however, can elicit undesirable off- target effects. We have used several model genes to study these effects in detail in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Using the zebrafish embryo as a template, correct and mistargeting effects are readily discernible through direct comparison of MO- injected animals with well- studied mutants. We show here indistinguishable off- targeting effects for both maternal and zygotic mRNAs and for both translational and splice- site targeting MOs. The major off- targeting effect is mediated through p53 activation, as detected through the transferase- mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, acridine orange, and p21 transcriptional activation assays. Concurrent knockdown of p53 specifically ameliorates the cell death induced by MO off- targeting. Importantly, reversal of p53- dependent cell death by p53 knockdown does not affect specific loss of gene function, such as the cell death caused by loss of function of chordin. Interestingly, quantitative reverse- transcriptase PCR, microarrays and whole- mount in situ hybridization assays show that MO offtargeting effects are accompanied by diagnostic transcription of an N- terminal truncated p53 isoform that uses a recently recognized internal p53 promoter. We show here that MO off- targeting results in induction of a p53-dependent cell death pathway. p53 activation has also recently been shown to be an unspecified off- target effect of siRNAs. Both commonly used knockdown technologies can thus induce secondary but sequence- specific p53 activation. p53 inhibition could potentially be applicable to other systems to suppress off- target effects caused by other knockdown technologies.