How is plant cell cytokinesis different from animal cell cytokinesis?The contractile filaments found in plant cells are structures composed of carbohydrates; the cleavage furrow in animal cells is composed of contractile proteins.Plant cells deposit vesicles containing cell wall building blocks on the metaphase plate; animal cells form a cleavage furrow.The structural proteins of plant cells separate the two cells; in animal cells, a cell membrane separates the two daughter cells.Plant cells divide after metaphase but before anaphase; animal cells divide after anaphase.

Cytokinesis, the process of cell division, differs between plant and animal cells in several ways:

1. Composition of Contractile Filaments: In plant cells, the contractile filaments are composed of carbohydrates. In contrast, the cleavage furrow in animal cells, which is the indentation that eventually leads to cell division, is composed of contractile proteins.

2. Formation of Cell Wall vs Cleavage Furrow: Plant cells form a cell plate at the metaphase plate by depositing vesicles containing cell wall building blocks. This cell plate eventually develops into a new cell wall, separating the two daughter cells. On the other hand, animal cells form a cleavage furrow, which pinches the cell into two.

3. Separation of Daughter Cells: In plant cells, the new cell wall that forms from the cell plate separates the two daughter cells. In animal cells, the cell membrane pinches in and eventually separates the two daughter cells.

4. Timing of Division: Plant cells typically begin the process of cell division after metaphase but before anaphase. Animal cells, however, usually begin the process of cell division after anaphase.

These differences are largely due to the presence of a rigid cell wall in plant cells but not in animal cells.