citokinézissel

Citokinézis is the biological process by which a cell divides into two daughter cells. It is the final stage of cell division, following mitosis (in eukaryotes) or binary fission (in prokaryotes). During citokinézis, the cytoplasm of the parent cell is divided, distributing the organelles and other cellular components into the two new cells.

In animal cells, citokinézis occurs through the formation of a cleavage furrow. A contractile ring made of actin and myosin filaments assembles around the equator of the cell. This ring constricts, pulling the cell membrane inward and eventually pinching the cell into two.

In plant cells, the process is different due to the presence of a rigid cell wall. A cell plate forms in the middle of the cell, originating from vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus. This cell plate grows outward and fuses with the existing cell wall, forming a new cell wall that separates the two daughter cells.

In bacteria, which are prokaryotes, citokinézis is part of binary fission. The bacterial chromosome replicates, and the cell elongates. Then, a septum forms, dividing the cytoplasm and leading to the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells. This process is simpler than eukaryotic citokinézis as it lacks complex organelles and a nucleus. The efficiency of citokinézis is crucial for growth, development, and reproduction in all forms of life.