National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

What is a major difference between nuclear cell division in plants and mammals?

1. Nuclear membrane formation

2. Cell plates are synthesized

3. Chromosome alignment

4. Cell separation method

The correct answer is: Cell plates are synthesized

The major difference between nuclear cell division in plants and mammals lies in the cell plate synthesis that occurs during cytokinesis, the process that follows nuclear division. In plant cells, a structure known as the cell plate forms during cytokinesis. This plate is created from vesicles that gather at the center of the cell and fuse to form a new membrane, which ultimately develops into the cell wall that will separate the two daughter cells. In contrast, mammalian cells undergo a different method of cytokinesis called cleavage furrow formation. In this process, the cell membrane is pinched inwards, creating a furrow that deepens until the two cells are separated. This fundamental difference in cell separation is a direct result of the structural differences between plant and animal cells, specifically the presence of the rigid cell wall in plants, which necessitates the formation of a cell plate to ensure proper division without disrupting that wall. This understanding of plant and animal cell division is critical in fields like botany, zoology, and cellular biology, as it highlights how different organisms have evolved distinct mechanisms suited to their cellular structures.