What is the name of the process where the cytoplasm divides during cell division?

Cytokinesis is the process in which the cytoplasm of a parental cell divides into two daughter cells. This event occurs after mitosis or meiosis, effectively completing cell division.

During cytokinesis, the cell membrane constricts around the center of the cell, forming a cleavage furrow that deepens until the two daughter cells are separated. In plant cells, a cell plate forms in the center of the cell, eventually leading to the formation of a new cell wall. This distinct step is crucial for ensuring that each daughter cell receives an appropriate amount of cytoplasm and organelles.

Mitosis and meiosis refer specifically to the division of the nucleus, while interphase is the phase of the cell cycle where the cell is not actively dividing. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why cytokinesis is uniquely identified as the process of cytoplasmic division.