What is the Difference between Telophase and Cytokinesis?

Telophase and Cytokinesis are the last two steps of the cell cycle. A cell cycle is an event where the cells undergo growth and division to reproduce daughter cells. Let us take an overview of both the steps before differentiating between them.

What is Telophase?

Telophase is the last step of karyokinesis in a cell cycle. Karyokinesis is the division of the nuclei of the parent cell into daughter cells. Telophase is the stage where the genetic material is pulled apart at the poles, a nuclear membrane is formed, spindle fibres disappear, the DNA uncoils and becomes less visible. Telophase takes place both in mitosis and meiosis, twice in meiosis as Telophase I and Telophase II.

What is Cytokinesis?

Cytokinesis is the next and final step after nuclear division in a cell cycle. It is the process of division of the cytoplasm of the parent cell into two daughter cells. All the cell organelles are divided equally in this process and result in two complete daughter cells.

However, this process happens differently in plant and animal cells. In plant cells, a cell plate is formed in between with the help of microtubules and vesicles. On the other hand in animal cells, the parent cell starts pinching at the centre until two separate daughter cells are formed.

Let us know about the differences between Telophase and Cytokinesis now.

Telophase vs Cytokinesis

Read more about the cell cycle here.