Distinguish cytokinesis from karyokinesis.
Karyokinesis is a division of the nucleus (mitosis or meiosis) while cytokinesis is a division of the cytoplasm. Cytokinesis in an animal cells is achieved by the appearance of a furrow in the plasma membrane. The furrow gradually deepens and ultimately joins in the center dividing the cell cytoplasm into two. In-plant cell cell wall formation starts in the center of the cell and grows outward to meet the existing lateral walls. The formation of a new cell wall begins with the formation of a simple precursor, called the cell plate that represents the middle lamella between the walls of two adjacent cells. It is the time of cytoplasmic division, organelles like mitochondria and plastids get distributed between the two daughter cells. In some organisms, karyokinesis is not followed by ”cytokinesis as a result of which multinucleate condition arises leading to the formation of syncytium (liquid endosperm of coconut).
