Redifferentiation
The process where cells produced by dedifferentiated meristems mature again to perform specific functions, losing their capacity to divide.
What is Redifferentiation?
The process by which a cell or tissue, having lost its specialized characteristics and capacity for division (dedifferentiated), reacquires them to perform a specific function.
Key points
- Understand the process of redifferentiation in plant tissues.
- Differentiate redifferentiation from differentiation and dedifferentiation.
- Identify examples of redifferentiation in plant development.
- Appreciate the role of redifferentiation in plant tissue culture and regeneration.
Common exam trap
Confusing redifferentiation with differentiation.
Definitions
- Term
Redifferentiation
- Meaning
The process by which a cell or tissue, having lost its specialized characteristics and capacity for division (dedifferentiated), reacquires them to perform a specific function.
- Term
Dedifferentiation
- Meaning
The process by which a differentiated cell loses its specialized characteristics and re-enters the cell cycle to divide.
Learning objectives
Understand the process of redifferentiation in plant tissues.
Differentiate redifferentiation from differentiation and dedifferentiation.
Identify examples of redifferentiation in plant development.
Appreciate the role of redifferentiation in plant tissue culture and regeneration.
Prerequisites
Cell Differentiation
Meristematic Tissues
Permanent Tissues
Dedifferentiation
Common mistakes
Confusing redifferentiation with differentiation.
Forgetting that redifferentiation follows dedifferentiation.
Assuming redifferentiated cells retain the ability to divide indefinitely.
Keywords
Redifferentiation
Dedifferentiation
Differentiation
Plant Tissues
Plant Development
Tissue Culture
Vascular Cambium
Practice preview
Consider a scenario where a plant tissue culture is initiated from a mature parenchyma cell. This cell first forms a callus, and then specific hormones are added to induce the formation of roots and shoots. The cells for…
hard
A defining characteristic of cells that have undergone redifferentiation is that they:…
easy
The primary outcome of redifferentiation in plants is the formation of:…
medium