The ability of the components of cells of callus to form a whole plant...
Option (A): The process in which differentiated cells loses their ability to divide and later reformed from the dedifferentiated cells.
This allows the cells to regain a specific function.
Option (B): Dedifferentiation is a process which makes the cells less specialized in order to return to an original state in terms of functionality.
Hence, the correct option is (B)
The ability of the components of cells of callus to form a whole plant...
Understanding Dedifferentiation
Dedifferentiation is a crucial process in plant cell biology, particularly in tissue culture and regeneration. It refers to the ability of specialized cells to revert to a more primitive, unspecialized state. This process is fundamental for the formation of callus tissue, which can give rise to whole plants.
Key Points About Dedifferentiation:
- Definition: Dedifferentiation allows differentiated cells, which have specific functions, to lose their specialized characteristics and revert to a meristematic state.
- Callus Formation: When plant tissues are cultured under specific conditions, cells undergo dedifferentiation to form callus, a mass of undifferentiated cells that can proliferate.
- Regeneration Potential: The dedifferentiated cells in callus have the potential to redifferentiate into various plant organs, such as roots, shoots, and leaves, ultimately forming a whole plant.
- Importance in Biotechnology: This process is vital in plant tissue culture, cloning, and genetic engineering, allowing for the production of genetically identical plants from a single cell.
Redifferentiation vs. Dedifferentiation
- Redifferentiation: This is the process where dedifferentiated cells regain specific functions and characteristics to form specialized tissues again.
- Dedifferentiation: It is the initial step that allows the return to an unspecialized state, hence enabling regeneration.
In conclusion, while redifferentiation is essential for forming specialized structures from undifferentiated callus tissues, it is dedifferentiation that enables the initial transformation, making "b) Dedifferentiation" the correct answer to the question regarding the ability of callus cells to form a whole plant.