Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

In which phase of the cell cycle does cytokinesis occur?

1. Prophase

2. Metaphase

3. Telophase

4. Interphase

The correct answer is: Telophase

Cytokinesis occurs during the telophase of the cell cycle. This is the final stage of mitosis, following anaphase, where the chromosomes have been separated and are at opposite poles of the cell. During telophase, the nuclear membrane re-forms around each set of chromosomes, and the cell prepares to divide into two daughter cells. Cytokinesis specifically involves the physical splitting of the cytoplasm, which typically happens concurrently with telophase. This process completes cell division by creating two distinct cells that have their own nuclei and share the organelles and cytoplasm of the original cell. In contrast, prophase and metaphase are earlier stages of mitosis where the chromosomes condense and align at the cell's equatorial plane, respectively. Interphase, on the other hand, is the phase where the cell prepares for division by growing and replicating its DNA, but it does not involve the actual division of the cytoplasm. Therefore, the correct answer indicating that cytokinesis occurs during telophase aligns with the chronological sequence and functional events of the cell cycle.