Question

Compare the processes of cytokinesis in animal and plant cells. Use diagrams.

Answer 1

Cytokinesis is the process by which the cytoplasm splits into two and the cell divides.Hence cytoplasm and cell membranes are important for the cytokinesis. Both Animal and plant cells undergo mitotic cell divisions but the main difference is the process of cytokinesis to form the offspring.

Process of cytokinesis in Animal cell.

• The animal cells divide by cleavage furrow.
• This cleavage starts at the periphery and then moves inward, thus dividing the cell into two daughter cells equally.
• In these cells the cell membrane is pulled until the cytoplasm is pinched into two equal daughter cells.
• The each part formed contains it's own nucleus and organelles.

Process of Cytokinesis in Plant Cell.

• Plant Cells divide by the cell plate because the plants cells contain cell walls and thus cleavage cannot take place.
• This Cell plate formation starts at the center of the cell and grows outward, towards the lateral walls because In these cells the cell wall is not flexible to pull inward due to rigid cell wall.
• The cell plate forms between the divided nuclei that develops into cell membranes. Thus a cell membrane then forms between the two new membranes making two new daughter cells.