dedifferentiation

American  

[dee-dif-uh-ren-shee-ey-shuhn] / diˌdɪf əˌrɛn ʃiˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

Biology.

1. a process by which structures or behaviors that were specialized for a specific function lose their specialization and become simplified or generalized.

---

dedifferentiation British  

/ diːˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the reversion of the cells of differentiated tissue to a less specialized form

---

Etymology

Origin of dedifferentiation

First recorded in 1915–20; de- + differentiation ( def. )