Cell Division in Animals and Plants: Similarities and Differences

Discuss the fundamental principles of cell division in animals and plants.

According to cell theory, all cells come from pre-existing cells. Cell division is the process in which one cell becomes two cells. During cell division, both the nucleus and the cytoplasm are divided (a division of the nucleus is called karyokinesis, and a division of the cytoplasm is called cytokinesis). Cell division may be accomplished in one of two ways: mitosis (for somatic cell division) and meiosis (for gametic cell division). Each process, mitosis and meiosis have its own function in the cell. Use examples from both animals and plants in order to look at key similarities and differences between the division of these types of cells.