Cytokinesis Transitional Reasoning Practice

Questions

1. 1.

   In an experiment investigating the mechanical basis of cell division, researchers treated dividing animal cells and dividing plant cells with a chemical agent that specifically prevents actin microfilament assembly. The treated animal cells completed nuclear division but failed to divide their cytoplasm, resulting in binucleated cells, whereas the plant cells successfully divided their cytoplasm and produced two distinct daughter cells. Based on these observations and cell cycle mechanics, which statement correctly explains the difference in cytokinesis between the two cell types?

   • A) Plant cells use intermediate filaments rather than microfilaments to assemble a constricting contractile ring at the cell equator.
   • B) Animal cytokinesis depends exclusively on vesicle transport along microtubules to build a partitioning membrane from the center outward.
   • C) Animal cells depend on an actomyosin contractile ring to form a cleavage furrow, whereas plant cells complete cytokinesis through Golgi-derived vesicle fusion to form a cell plate.
   • D) Both cell types normally form a cleavage furrow, but the rigid plant cell wall exerts inward mechanical pressure that forces furrowing without actin.

Answers and step-by-step solutions appear after you finish the test.