Question

Identify the distinguishing differences between plants and animals in the cell cycle. Describe the differences for full credit.

a) Plants have a unique process of cell division called mitosis, while animals undergo meiosis for reproduction.
b) Plants lack centrioles and have a rigid cell wall, which influences their cell division, unlike animals.
c) Both plants and animals undergo similar stages of the cell cycle, but plants have additional phases during mitosis.
d) Plants have a shorter interphase compared to animals, leading to faster cell division and growth.

Answer 1

Animal cells contain centrioles, centrosomes, and lysosomes, whereas plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, plasmodesmata, and a central vacuole. Cell division differs as animal cells use an actin ring for cytokinesis, while plant cells develop a cell plate to form a new cell wall.

Step-by-step explanation:

The distinguishing differences between plants and animals in the cell cycle mainly pertain to cellular structures and the process of cytokinesis. In particular, animal cells have structures such as centrioles, centrosomes, and lysosomes that plant cells lack. Conversely, plant cells are characterized by a rigid cell wall, chloroplasts, plasmodesmata (channels that facilitate communication and transport between plant cells), and plastids used for storage, as well as a large central vacuole.

During cell division, plant and animal cells undergo mitosis and cytokinesis; however, the methods of cytokinesis differ due to the presence of a rigid cell wall in plants. Animal cells undergo cytokinesis through the formation of an actin ring that pinches the cell into two, while plant cells form a new cell wall during this process via the development of a cell plate. This difference is due to the plant cells' need to accommodate their cell wall during division.