The main difference between telophase and cytokinesis is that telophase is the last step in karyokinesis , which forms two daughter nuclei. Meanwhile, cytokinesis is the final step in cell division , in which the cytoplasm is evenly distributed between the two daughter nuclei. While telophase, daughter forms nuclear membranes and chromosomes while decondense during cytokinesis, a cleavage groove forms in animal cells and a cell plate forms in plant cells, the mother cell is divided in two .  

Telophase and cytokinesis are two steps in cell division. In general, they occur in both mitosis and meiosis .  

Key areas covered  

1. What is telophase - definition, process, meaning 2. What is cytokinesis - definition, process, meaning 3. What are the similarities between telophase and cytokinesis - overview of the similarities 4. What is the difference between telophase and cytokinesis - comparison of Main differences

key terms  

Cell division, cell plate, cleft groove, cytokinesis, karyokinesis, telophase

What is telophase?  

After the anaphase, the telophase is the fourth step in the division of the nucleus. Hence, it is the final step in karyokinesis. In general, in mitosis, the anaphase pulls daughter chromosomes apart into the opposite poles of the cell with respect to the equatorial plate. This is due to the tension created by the spindle device. Therefore, at the beginning of the telophase, the daughter chromosomes are at the opposite poles. During telophase , nuclear membranes are formed that surround the daughter chromosomes , which in turn form two daughter nuclei. Here the daughter chromosomes are decondensed to form chromatin.

Figure 1: Telophase

In addition, there are two types of telophase in meiosis: telophase I and telophase II. Basically, telophase I occurs in meiosis I, the first part of meiosis. In this phase, the nuclear membrane formation is responsible for surrounding the daughter chromosomes at opposite poles. In comparison, telophase II occurs during the second part of meiosis, meiosis II. Here the formation of nuclear membranes surrounds the separated sister chromatids in two opposite poles.  

What is cytokinesis  

Cytokinesis is the final step in cell division and is completed after the nucleus has finished dividing. Typically, at the end of the nucleus division, two daughter nuclei appear at the opposite poles of the cell. Therefore, cytokinesis is responsible for the division of the cytoplasm of the mother cell between these two daughter nuclei. This process of cytoplasmic division also takes place in the same way. In addition, cytokinesis begins at the beginning of cell division but ends at the end of karyokinesis.

Figure 2: Cytokinesis

In addition, cytokinesis in animal cells is different from that in plant cells. Basically, a cell wall must form in plant cells in order to separate the two daughter cells. Therefore, the formation of a new cell wall begins in the middle of the mother cell in the form of a cell plate with the help of microtubules and vesicles. In animal cells, however, cytokinesis occurs through the formation of a cleft furrow. It begins with a "pinch in" from the top and bottom of the cell, with a daughter nucleus on each side. And that pinching leads to the formation of a protein structure called a contractile ring.  

Similarities Between Telophase and Cytokinesis   

• Telophase and cytokinesis are two steps in cell division.   
• They occur in both mitosis and meiosis.   
• In addition, they are responsible for dividing different units of the cell into two parts .   
• Therefore, the main function of these steps is to produce daughter cells from a mother cell.  

Difference Between Telophase and Cytokinesis  

definition  

Telophase refers to the final step in nucleus division that follows anaphase, in which two daughter nuclei are formed through the formation of nuclear membranes. Cytokinesis is the cytoplasmic division of the cell either at the end of mitosis or at meiosis, whereby two daughter cells are separated.  

episode  

While telophase follows anaphase, cytokinesis is complete after telophase.  

meaning  

In addition, telophase is the last step in karyokinesis, while cytokinesis is the last step in cell division.  

procedure  

During telophase, two daughter nuclear membranes are formed, which form chromatin, while during cytokinesis a cleft is formed in animal cells and a cell plate in plant cells.  

meaning  

In addition, the telophase is responsible for the formation of two daughter nuclei. Meanwhile, cytokinesis is responsible for dividing the mother cell's cytoplasm into two parts that surround the two daughter nuclei.  

diploma  

Telophase is the last step in karyokinesis, which is responsible for nuclear division. In general, the telophase follows the anaphase and at the beginning the chromosomes reach the opposite poles of the cell. Therefore, it enables the formation of daughter nuclear membranes that surround the daughter chromosomes. In addition, chromosomes decondense into chromatin during telophase. Cytokinesis, on the other hand, is the final step in cell division and is responsible for dividing the cell's cytoplasm, creating two daughter cells. In addition, cytokinesis occurs in animal cells through the formation of a cleft, while in plant cells it occurs through the formation of the cell plate. Hence, the main difference between telophase and cytokinesis is their occurrence, process, and importance.  

References:

1. O'Connor, Clare. "Mitosis and Cell Division." Nature News , Nature Publishing Group, Available here.

Image courtesy:

1. “Mitotic Telophase” By MITOSIS_cells_secuence.svg : LadyofHatsderivative work: Matt (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 2. “Figure 10 02 04” By CNX OpenStax ( CC BY 4.0 ) via Commons Wikimedia