Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Question:

Cytokinesis is division of :

Options:

Division of chromosomes

Division of cytoplasm.

Division of nucleus .

All of the above .

Correct Answer:

Division of cytoplasm.

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2)- Division of cytoplasm.

Cytokinesis is the final step following nuclear division in the cell cycle. It involves the division of the parent cell's cytoplasm into two daughter cells. During this process, all cell organelles are equally distributed, resulting in two fully formed daughter cells.

In an animal cell, this is achieved by the appearance of a furrow in the plasma membrane. The furrow gradually deepens and ultimately joins in the centre dividing the cell cytoplasm into two. Plant cells however, are enclosed by a relatively inextensible cell wall, thererfore they undergo cytokinesis by a different mechanism.

In plant cells, wall formation starts in the centre of the cell and grows outward to meet the existing lateral walls. The formation of the new cell wall begins with the formation of a simple precursor, called the cell-plate that represents the middle lamella between the walls of two adjacent cells. At the time of cytoplasmic division, organelles like mitochondria and plastids get distributed between the two daughter cells. In some organisms karyokinesis is not followed by cytokinesis as a result of which multinucleate condition arises leading to the formation of syncytium (e.g., liquid endosperm in coconut).