1. How does plant cell mitosis differ from animal cell mitosis?

A) Plant cell mitosis is much faster
B) Plant cells do not undergo mitosis
C) Plant cells have rigid cell walls making it difficult to pinch in
D) Plant cells pitch in and animal cells do not

C

The correct answer is C) Plant cells have rigid cell walls making it difficult to pinch in.

To understand the difference between plant cell mitosis and animal cell mitosis, let's first review what mitosis is. Mitosis is the process of cell division, where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells. This process is crucial for growth, repair, and reproduction.

In animal cells, during mitosis, the cell membrane undergoes a process called cytokinesis, where it pinches inward to create a cleavage furrow, eventually leading to the separation of the two daughter cells. Animal cells do not have a rigid cell wall, allowing them to easily pinch in during cytokinesis.

On the other hand, plant cells have a rigid cell wall surrounding them, which provides structural support and protection. Due to this rigidity, plant cells cannot pinch inward like animal cells during cytokinesis. Instead, plant cells undergo a slightly different process called cell plate formation. During cell plate formation, a new cell wall is built between the daughter cells, dividing them into two separate cells. This process is a bit slower compared to cytokinesis in animal cells.

Therefore, the correct answer is C) Plant cells have rigid cell walls making it difficult to pinch in.