Cytokinesis - Definition and Overview

Cytokinesis refers to the division of a eukaryotic cell. Cytokinesis usually occurs after a cell has undergone nuclear division as part of mitosis or meiosis. Except for some special cases, the amount of cytoplasm in each daughter cell is the same. In animal cells, the cell membrane forms a cleavage furrow and pinches apart like a balloon. The cleavage furrow is formed by action of microfilaments. In plant cells, a cell plate forms instead, which becomes the new cell wall separating the daughter cells. Vesicles containing material for the cell wall are brought to the cell plate and secreted in the formation of the cell wall.

See also

• cell cycle
• cell division
• binary fission

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