What occurs during cytokinesis?

During cytokinesis, the process that occurs at the end of cell division, a cell divides its cytoplasm, resulting in the formation of two separate daughter cells. This process usually follows mitosis or meiosis and is crucial for ensuring that each daughter cell receives a complete set of organelles and cytoplasmic components.

Cytokinesis is characterized by the physical separation of the cytoplasmic contents, which can be facilitated by the formation of a cleavage furrow in animal cells or a cell plate in plant cells. This division ensures that both daughter cells are equipped to function independently after the division has completed. This is why the choice about a cell splitting into two daughter cells is the correct answer, as it accurately describes the outcome of cytokinesis.

The other choices relate to different aspects of cell division; for instance, nucleic division (the division of the nucleus) happens during mitosis, while chromosome replication occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle, prior to mitosis. Genetic exchange is a phenomenon observed during processes like meiosis (crossing over) but does not pertain to cytokinesis itself.