Florida Biology EOC Practice Test

What structures form during cytokinesis in plant cells but not animal cells?

1. Centrioles

2. Cell plates

3. Chromatids

4. Spindle fibers

The correct answer is: Centrioles

During cytokinesis in plant cells, the formation of cell plates occurs, marking the division of the cytoplasm and ultimately leading to the creation of two separate daughter cells. This process differs significantly from that in animal cells, where a cleavage furrow forms to separate the cells. The presence of cell plates in plant cells is essential because it helps to create a rigid cell wall that maintains the structural integrity of the plant. In contrast, centrioles, chromatids, and spindle fibers are all structures that are involved in the earlier stages of cell division, particularly during mitosis, but are not relevant to the specific distinction of structures formed during cytokinesis in higher plant cells. Thus, cell plates are the unique feature that characterizes cytokinesis in plant cells.