"In animal cells, the cell membrane pinches in the middle and the cytoplasm divides. In plant cells, the appearance of a cell plate shows that the cytoplasm is being separated." - Glencoe Science Book 7th Grade "Life Science"
The above refers to the division of the cytoplasm, which is called cytokinesis. Although cytokinesis accompanies mitosis, it is not strictly part of it; mitosis is nuclear division.
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In animal cells there is an organelle, the centriole, which is not found in plants. The centriole divides in two during prophase, and each daughter-centriole moves to a position that will be one pole of the spindle.
However, the centriole is not essential for mitosis in animal cells, and plant cells do not have one.
The term "microtubule organizing center" (MTOC) is used for any structure that forms the spindle. It is not yet clear what the MTOC is in plants.
