dedifferentoituminen

Dedifferentiation is a biological process where a fully differentiated cell reverts to a less specialized state. This means a cell that has already acquired a specific function and structure loses some or all of those characteristics. The reverted cell then has the potential to differentiate into different cell types.

This phenomenon is crucial in certain natural processes such as regeneration. For example, in some animals, if a limb is lost, dedifferentiation of existing cells at the wound site can create a population of progenitor cells. These cells can then redifferentiate to form the new limb. Plant tissues also exhibit dedifferentiation, which is a key mechanism in tissue culture where a small piece of plant material can be induced to grow into a whole new plant.

The molecular mechanisms underlying dedifferentiation involve changes in gene expression. Specific genes that define the differentiated state are silenced, while genes associated with pluripotency or multipotency are activated. This allows the cell to regain developmental plasticity. While dedifferentiation is a natural and beneficial process in many contexts, understanding it is also important for regenerative medicine and stem cell research, as it offers insights into how to reprogram cells for therapeutic purposes.