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Why can animal cells use a contractile ring but plant cells cannot?

  • A. Plant cells can use both methods to divide.
  • B. Animal cells divide faster, requiring them to pinch apart.
  • C. Plant cells are too rigid to utilize a contractile ring.
  • D. Plant cells have a cell wall that hinders the formation of a contractile ring.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall surrounding their cell membrane, which prevents the formation of a contractile ring during cell division. The contractile ring is a structure composed of actin filaments responsible for pinching the cell in two during cytokinesis. Since plant cells cannot form a contractile ring due to the presence of the cell wall, they rely on other methods such as cell plate formation to complete cell division.