What process ultimately pinches a dividing cell to produce two daughter cells during cytokinesis?

• A. Nuclear envelope breakdown
• B. Spindle fiber elongation
• C. Cleavage furrow formation
• D. Chromosome condensation

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that cytokinesis is the process that divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells.
2. Recognize that in animal cells, cytokinesis is achieved through the formation of a cleavage furrow.
3. The cleavage furrow is an indentation that appears on the cell surface, marking the beginning of the division.
4. This furrow is formed by a contractile ring composed of actin and myosin filaments, which are proteins that facilitate contraction.
5. As the contractile ring tightens, it pinches the cell membrane inward, eventually splitting the cell into two separate daughter cells.