You are studying a type of cell that you don't know much about. You want to determine what organism the cell comes from. You decide to watch cell division in this plant using the appropriate cell biology tools. After some experimentation, you determine that cytokinesis in this cell is sensitive to myosin inhibitors. You are likely studying
A) a plant cell.
B) an animal cell.
C) a bacterial cell.
D) a cell type that has not been previously studied.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cytokinesis in animal cells involves the formation of a cleavage furrow, which is dependent on the activity of the motor protein myosin. Inhibitors of myosin activity can therefore prevent cytokinesis from occurring in animal cells. Plant cells, on the other hand, undergo cytokinesis through the formation of a cell plate, which is not dependent on myosin activity. Bacterial cells also undergo cytokinesis through a different process that does not involve myosin. Therefore, the sensitivity of cytokinesis to myosin inhibitors suggests that the cell being studied is likely an animal cell. The fact that the cell has not been previously studied is not relevant to this particular observation.

You Are Studying a Type of Cell That You Don't