DEDIFFERENTIATION Meaning and
Definition
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Dedifferentiation refers to the process in which specialized or differentiated cells lose their specific characteristics and revert back to a more primitive or unspecialized state. It is the opposite of differentiation, which is the process by which cells acquire specialized functions and characteristics.
In biology, dedifferentiation is often observed during the regeneration and healing processes in multicellular organisms. When tissues are damaged, dedifferentiation can occur in nearby cells, allowing them to undergo cell division and proliferate into new cells that can then differentiate into the specialized cell types needed for tissue repair. This ability to dedifferentiate and differentiate again is predominantly witnessed in plants and certain animals.
Additionally, dedifferentiation can be artificially induced in certain cell types in laboratory settings. For example, researchers may use specific chemicals or genetic techniques to trigger dedifferentiation in adult cells, such as skin cells or muscle cells, resulting in the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs can then be reprogrammed to differentiate into various cell types, offering potential applications in regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
Overall, dedifferentiation is a fundamental biological process that plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration, cellular plasticity, and stem cell biology. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of dedifferentiation may open new avenues for medical advancements and therapeutic interventions.
Common Misspellings for DEDIFFERENTIATION
- sedifferentiation
- xedifferentiation
- cedifferentiation
- fedifferentiation
- redifferentiation
- eedifferentiation
- dwdifferentiation
- dsdifferentiation
- dddifferentiation
- drdifferentiation
- d4differentiation
- d3differentiation
- desifferentiation
- dexifferentiation
- decifferentiation
- defifferentiation
- derifferentiation
- deeifferentiation
- dedufferentiation
Etymology of DEDIFFERENTIATION
The word dedifferentiation has its roots in two Latin words: de, meaning down or away, and differentiatio, derived from differentia, meaning difference or distinction.
Similar spelling words for DEDIFFERENTIATION
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