Animal cells and plant cells, while similar in function, behave differently and use their varying parts for special purposes. When studying the differences between how each cell divides, you should first know the makeup of each cell. Animal cells are smaller than plant cells and have no cell wall or chloroplasts. Plant cells are large and rectangular, but they don't have lysosomes. Once you understand the characteristics of each cell, being able to recognize the differences in cell division is simple.
- Photos of the six phases of mitosis (prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and interphase) for both plant and animal cells
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Instructions
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1
Notice the centrosomes of plant cells weave the spindle microtubles on their own during prophase. In animal cells, asters surround the microtubles to force the microtubles together.
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2
Pay special attention to the differences during telophase. The plant cell forms a cell plate in the middle, creating a new cell wall for both daughter cells. The plate itself is a straight line that cuts the cell in half, forming two new cells.
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3
Compare telophase in the plant cell with that of the animal cell. The animal cell forms a cleavage furrow, which is a ring-like structure in the center of the cell that tightens until two daughter cells are created, and then separates them.