Biology / Unit 4 Bio 0867 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Cytokinesis in Animal Cells
Captions available
The idea
In an animal cell, cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm as a contractile actin ring pulls the plasma membrane inward at the former metaphase plate, forming a deepening cleavage furrow.
In practice
The cleavage furrow deepens until it pinches the parent cell fully in two, producing separate daughters.
Where people slip
Cytokinesis is distinct from mitosis — a cell can complete mitosis and skip cytokinesis, yielding one multinucleate cell.
Your place on the trail
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