dedifferentiation
[ dee-dif-uh-ren-shee-ey-shuh n ]
/ diˌdɪf əˌrɛn ʃiˈeɪ ʃən /
noun Biology.
a process by which structures or behaviors that were specialized for a specific function lose their specialization and become simplified or generalized.
Origin of dedifferentiation
First recorded in 1915–20;
de- +
differentiation
Words nearby dedifferentiation
dedicated,
dedicatee,
dedication,
dedicatory,
dedifferentiate,
dedifferentiation,
dedolomitization,
dedolomitize,
deduce,
deduct,
deductible
British Dictionary definitions for dedifferentiation
dedifferentiation
/ (diːˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən) /
noun
the reversion of the cells of differentiated tissue to a less specialized form
Medical definitions for dedifferentiation
dedifferentiation
[ dē′dĭf-ə-rĕn′shē-ā′shən ]
n.
Regression of a specialized cell or tissue to a simpler unspecialized form.