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Related Concept Videos

Animal and Plant Cell Structure01:30

Animal and Plant Cell Structure

Animal and plant cells not only differ in their structure, function, and mode of nutrition but also in how they reproduce, specialize, and organize into complex structures.
Cell Division
Though both plant and animal cells divide by mitosis (for non-gametic cells) and meiosis (for gametic cells), they differ in the specifics of this process. Unlike animal cells, plant cells lack centrosomes — an organelle responsible for organizing the spindle fibers and segregating the chromosomes during cell...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
The Phragmoplast01:59

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...
The Phragmoplast01:59

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division01:27

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves
08:31

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves

Published on: December 2, 2016

When and where plant cells divide: a perspective from computational modeling.

Adrienne H K Roeder1

  • 1Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology and Plant Biology Department, Cornell University, 239 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA. ahr75@cornell.edu

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|September 4, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Plant cell division timing and plane are variable, not fixed. Models simulating plant tissue growth are more accurate when accounting for these variations in cell division size and placement.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves
08:31

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves

Published on: December 2, 2016

Mammalian Cell Division in 3D Matrices via Quantitative Confocal Reflection Microscopy
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Mammalian Cell Division in 3D Matrices via Quantitative Confocal Reflection Microscopy

Published on: November 29, 2017

Analysis of Multidimensional Microscopy Data Using Cell-ACDC
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Analysis of Multidimensional Microscopy Data Using Cell-ACDC

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Area of Science:

  • Computational biology
  • Plant science
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Understanding plant tissue growth requires modeling cell division.
  • Previous models often assumed fixed cell division sizes and planes.
  • Recent experimental data challenge these assumptions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the variability in plant cell division timing and plane.
  • To improve computational models of plant tissue growth.
  • To compare model predictions with experimental observations of plant cells.

Main Methods:

  • Computational modeling of plant tissue growth.
  • Analysis of experimental data on plant cell division.
  • Comparison of model predictions with live cell imaging.

Main Results:

  • Models incorporating variable cell division sizes better replicate plant tissue.
  • The timing of cell division is not strictly size-dependent.
  • The division plane is variable, with minimal surface area being most probable.

Conclusions:

  • Plant cell division is more dynamic than previously modeled.
  • Variable division sizes and planes are crucial for accurate plant tissue growth simulations.
  • Future models should incorporate this observed variability.