compare and contrast plant mitosis and animal mitosis *focus on cytokenesis*
To compare and contrast plant mitosis and animal mitosis, with a focus on cytokinesis, let's first understand what mitosis is. Mitosis is a process of cell division that occurs in both plants and animals. It involves the replication and distribution of genetic material to form two genetically identical daughter cells.
Now, let's compare and contrast plant mitosis and animal mitosis, specifically looking at cytokinesis, which is the final stage of cell division where the cytoplasm is divided to create two separate cells.
Plant Mitosis:
1. Formation of a cell plate: In plant cells, during cytokinesis, a structure called the cell plate forms in the middle of the cell. This cell plate consists of vesicles containing cell wall material.
2. Cell wall synthesis: The vesicles from the Golgi apparatus fuse together to form a continuous cell plate across the center of the dividing cell. This results in the formation of a new cell wall between the two daughter cells.
3. Daughter cells: Once the cell plate is fully formed, it fuses with the existing cell wall, separating the two daughter cells. Each daughter cell will have its own nucleus and a portion of the cytoplasm.
Animal Mitosis:
1. Formation of a cleavage furrow: In animal cells, during cytokinesis, a cleavage furrow forms. This furrow is a contractile ring made of actin and myosin filaments.
2. Constriction of the cell membrane: The cleavage furrow contracts, gradually getting deeper until it eventually pinches the parent cell into two daughter cells.
3. Daughter cells: Once the contractile ring has completely constricted, it separates the cytoplasm, resulting in the formation of two separate daughter cells, each with its own nucleus.
To summarize the differences in cytokinesis between plant and animal mitosis:
- Plant cells form a cell plate to divide the cytoplasm, while animal cells form a cleavage furrow.
- Plant cells synthesize a new cell wall between daughter cells, whereas animal cells do not form a new cell wall.
While cytokinesis in plant and animal cells differs in terms of the mechanisms involved, the ultimate goal is the same: to split a parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells.