Animal cells:
* Cleavage furrow: Cytokinesis begins with the formation of a cleavage furrow, a groove in the cell surface. This furrow is created by a ring of microfilaments made of actin and myosin proteins, which contract and pinch the cell membrane inwards.
* No cell wall: As the cleavage furrow deepens, it eventually pinches off the cell membrane, completely separating the two daughter cells. Since animal cells lack a rigid cell wall, this process is relatively simple.
Plant cells:
* Cell plate formation: Plant cells, on the other hand, have a rigid cell wall that prevents the formation of a cleavage furrow. Instead, cytokinesis begins with the formation of a cell plate, a new cell wall that grows inwards from the center of the cell.
* Golgi apparatus involvement: The cell plate is formed from vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus, which contain cell wall material. These vesicles migrate to the middle of the dividing cell and fuse together, forming a disc-like structure.
* New cell wall: As the cell plate grows, it fuses with the existing cell walls of the parent cell, eventually dividing the cytoplasm and creating two daughter cells, each with its own cell wall.
In summary:
* Animal cells: Cleavage furrow pinches the cell membrane inwards.
* Plant cells: Cell plate forms from Golgi vesicles and expands inwards, creating a new cell wall.
