citokinézis

Citokinézis is a biological process that describes the division of the cytoplasm of a parent cell into two or more daughter cells. This is a crucial step in cell division, occurring after nuclear division (karyokinesis). In animal cells, cytokinesis typically involves the formation of a cleavage furrow, a contractile ring of actin and myosin filaments that pinches the cell membrane inward until the cytoplasm is completely divided. This furrow gradually deepens, eventually separating the cell into two distinct daughter cells, each with its own nucleus and organelles.

In plant cells, the process is different due to the presence of a rigid cell wall. Instead of a cleavage furrow, a cell plate forms in the middle of the parent cell. This cell plate, originating from vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus, grows outward until it fuses with the existing cell wall, effectively dividing the parent cell into two daughter cells. The cell plate then matures into a new cell wall. Cytokinesis ensures that each new cell receives a complete set of genetic material and sufficient cellular components to function independently. This process is essential for growth, development, and reproduction in all multicellular organisms and for the propagation of unicellular organisms.