Living differentiated cells which have otherwise lost the capacity to divide, can regain the power o

Question

Living differentiated cells which have otherwise lost the capacity to divide, can regain the power of division under certain conditions. This phenomenon is termed as\

Professor PC Thomas Classes · Answer

(b) : The living differentiated cells, that have lost the capacity to divide can regain the power of division under certain conditions, this phenomenon is termed as dedifferentiation, e.g., formation of meristems - interfascicular cambium (formed from medullary rays) and cork cambium (formed from outer layer of cortex) from fully differentiated parenchyma cells. While doing so, such meristems/ tissues are able to divide and produce cells that once again lose the capacity to divide but mature to perform specific functions, i.e., get redifferentiated. E.g., cells of secondary xylem, secondary phloem and periderm. Thus, redifferentiation can be defined as maturation or differentiation of dedifferentiated tissues.