Florida Biology EOC Practice Test

Cytokinesis is a crucial process in the cell cycle that follows mitosis, where the cell actually divides into two distinct daughter cells. This involves the physical separation of the cytoplasm and its contents, leading to the formation of two separate, fully functional cells. In the context of plant and animal cells, while animal cells undergo a process known as cleavage furrow formation during cytokinesis, plant cells form a cell plate to divide. The correct understanding focuses on the broader aspect of this process, which is the final step of cell division rather than a specific mechanism exclusive to one type of cell. Thus, the most accurate answer characterizes cytokinesis as the division of the cytoplasm and its contents into two separate cells, marking the conclusion of the cell division process.