What is the difference between animal and plant cytokinesis?

Question

What is the difference between animal and plant cytokinesis?

Answer 1

Cytokinesis refers to the actual division of the cell's cytoplasm. Due to the different structure of plant and animal cells, there are some subtle differences in this process.

For Plants:

Cytokinesis begins at the conclusion of telophase. In the center of the cell, a structure known as a cell plate begins to grow and elongate, with each end heading toward the opposite cell walls. This linear wall-like structure continues to grow until it reaches the actual cell walls. Once the cell plate has divided the cell into two cells, it will continue to develop into a new cell wall.

For Animals:

Cytokinesis begins at the conclusion of telophase. The cell membranes on opposite sides of the cell become pinched-in allowing for the cell to divide. The initial structure that forms is called a cleavage furrow. The cleavage furrow continues to pinch in, until the two sides are touching. At this point, there will be two new cells.

Primary difference:

Animal cells lack a cell wall, while plant cells have a cell wall. Since the cell wall is inflexible, it cannot be "pinched in" as is the case of the animal cells.