Dedifferentiation is a process in biology where specialized cells revert back to a less specialized state. This phenomenon is often observed in plants and animals during processes such as regeneration, wound healing, and cancer development. Dedifferentiated cells generally have a higher proliferative capacity and can differentiate into multiple cell types, making them important for tissue repair and regeneration. Researchers are studying dedifferentiation to better understand how cells can be reprogrammed or manipulated for therapeutic purposes in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.