Animal Cell Division
* Cytokinesis:
* Cleavage Furrow: The cell membrane pinches inward, forming a cleavage furrow. This is driven by a ring of microfilaments made of the protein actin.
* No Cell Wall: Animal cells lack a rigid cell wall, allowing for the flexibility needed for the furrow to form.
* Centrioles: Animal cells possess centrioles, which are involved in the formation of the spindle fibers that pull chromosomes apart during mitosis.
* No Cell Plate: A cell plate, a structure that forms the new cell wall in plants, does not occur in animal cells.
Plant Cell Division
* Cytokinesis:
* Cell Plate Formation: A cell plate, composed of vesicles containing cell wall material, forms across the middle of the parent cell. The cell plate grows outward, eventually fusing with the existing cell walls to form a new cell wall separating the daughter cells.
* Cell Wall: The presence of the cell wall restricts the inward pinching seen in animal cells.
* Centrioles: Plant cells generally lack centrioles. The spindle fibers that pull chromosomes apart during mitosis are formed from microtubules organized at the poles of the cell.
* Cell Plate: A cell plate is a defining feature of plant cell division. It's made of cell wall material and eventually develops into the new cell wall that separates the daughter cells.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Animal Cell Division | Plant Cell Division |
|-----------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Cytokinesis | Cleavage Furrow | Cell Plate Formation |
| Centrioles | Present | Usually Absent |
| Cell Plate Formation | Absent | Present |
| Cell Wall | Absent | Present |
In essence, the differences in cell division reflect the fundamental differences between animal and plant cells, especially the presence or absence of a cell wall.
