How does cytokinesis differ in plant and animal cells?

Cytokinesis in plant cells involves the formation of a cell plate, while in animal cells, a cleavage furrow forms.

Cytokinesis is the final stage of cell division, where the cytoplasm of a parent cell splits into two daughter cells. This process, however, differs significantly between plant and animal cells due to their structural differences.

In animal cells, cytokinesis begins with the formation of a cleavage furrow. This is a contractile ring made up of actin and myosin proteins that constricts the cell membrane from the outside, eventually pinching the cell into two separate entities. This process is similar to tightening a drawstring bag, where the bag represents the cell and the drawstring represents the contractile ring.

On the other hand, plant cells have a rigid cell wall that prevents the formation of a cleavage furrow. Instead, cytokinesis in plant cells involves the formation of a cell plate. This cell plate is a structure that forms in the middle of the dividing cell and gradually extends outwards until it reaches the cell wall. The cell plate is made up of vesicles that are transported to the middle of the cell by the cytoskeleton. These vesicles fuse together to form a new cell wall, effectively dividing the parent cell into two daughter cells.

In summary, the main difference between cytokinesis in plant and animal cells lies in the mechanism of division. Animal cells use a contractile ring to constrict and divide the cell, while plant cells form a new cell wall to separate the two new cells. This difference is primarily due to the presence of a rigid cell wall in plant cells, which necessitates a different method of cytokinesis.