Final answer:
Cell division, particularly cytokinesis, differs between plant and animal cells, with animal cells using an actin ring to form daughter cells and plant cells forming a cell plate that develops into a cell wall. Organelles such as centrosomes and lysosomes in animal cells and the cell wall and chloroplasts in plant cells also highlight structural differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences in Cell Division between Plant and Animal Cells
The division of cells, particularly during cytokinesis, shows distinct differences between plant and animal cells. Animal cells utilize an actin ring to pinch the cell into two, forming what is known as a cleavage furrow, which leads to the formation of two daughter cells. In contrast, plant cells, which have a rigid cell wall outside the plasma membrane, cannot be pinched in this manner. Instead, they form a new structure known as the cell plate in the middle of the dividing cell, which eventually develops into a cell wall separating the two new daughter cells.
Some of the organelles and structures also vary between these two types of cells. Animal cells contain centrosomes and lysosomes, whereas plant cells do not. Conversely, plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, plasmodesmata, and a large central vacuole, which are not present in animal cells. These differences in structure are important for their respective roles in the division process and the overall functioning of each cell type.