What process involves the division of the cytoplasm during cell division?

Cytokinesis is the specific process that involves the division of the cytoplasm following the completion of mitosis or meiosis. During this phase, the cytoplasmic contents of a parent cell are distributed into two daughter cells, effectively concluding cell division. While mitosis and meiosis are the processes that refer to the division of the nucleus and genetic material, cytokinesis specifically addresses the physical separation of the cellular component.

In animals, this involves the formation of a cleavage furrow that pinches the cell membrane, while in plants, a cell plate forms to create a new cell wall. Understanding cytokinesis is essential for grasping how cells reproduce and the importance of this process in growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.