Q.What is differentiation and redifferentiation?

Differentiation is the process by which cells derived from meristematic tissue mature and become structurally and functionally specialized (e.g., into xylem, phloem, or other permanent tissues); redifferentiation is w...

Differentiation makes a cell specialized; redifferentiation lets an already-specialized cell become dividing/meristematic again.

Differentiation refers to the developmental changes that a relatively unspecialized cell derived from meristematic (apical, lateral or intercalary) tissue undergoes to acquire specific structural features and physiological functions suited to a permanent tissue — for example, a meristematic cell may differentiate into a xylem vessel element (developing lignified secondary walls and losing its protoplast) or into a phloem sieve tube element. Redifferentiation describes the reverse-then-forward process: cells that have already differentiated and matured can, under appropriate conditions (such as wounding, or in secondary growth from cork cambium/vascular cambium), dedifferentiate back to a meristematic, actively dividing state, and then redifferentiate into new specialized cells to perform a fresh function — for example, parenchyma cells becoming meristematic to form a cork cambium that …