Telophase and Cytokinesis result in which outcome?

• A. The nuclear envelope reforms and chromosomes de-condense
• B. Chromosomes line up at the metaphase plate
• C. The spindle disassembles after chromosomes separate
• D. Daughter cells are formed that are genetically identical to the parent cell

Answer: (D)

The essential idea is that mitosis followed by cytokinesis produces two genetically identical daughter cells. In telophase, the chromosomes arrive at the poles, de-condense back into thread-like form, and the nuclear envelope re-forms around each chromosome set. The spindle apparatus breaks down as the cell finishes chromosome separation. Cytokinesis then splits the cytoplasm, so the cell divides into two separate cells. In animal cells this is seen as a contractile ring drawing the membrane inward to form a cleavage furrow, while in plant cells vesicles fuse to create a cell plate that becomes a separating cell wall. The end result is two distinct daughter cells that have the same genetic information as the parent cell, aside from any new mutations.