The spelling of the word "cell plate" is straightforward with clear pronunciation marked by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /sɛl pleɪt/. This assigns phonetic symbols to individual letters and sounds. In this case, the "c" is pronounced as /s/, the "e" as /ɛ/, the double "l" as /l/ and the following "p" as /p/. The final "e" in "plate" remains silent. The phonetic transcription allows for precise pronunciation, essential in scientific and academic writing where accuracy is paramount.
A cell plate is a structure that forms during the process of cell division in plants, known as cytokinesis. It is a specialized barrier that separates the two daughter cells and eventually develops into a new cell wall.
The formation of a cell plate occurs during the telophase stage of mitosis or meiosis, when the parent cell is undergoing division. This process is unique to plant cells and differs from animal cell division, which involves the formation of a cleavage furrow.
The cell plate starts as a series of vesicles that originate from the Golgi apparatus. These vesicles migrate to the center of the dividing cell, guided by microtubules and actin filaments. As they accumulate, the vesicles merge and fuse together to create a disk-like structure called the cell plate.
Once the cell plate is formed, it enlarges both towards the periphery of the cell and towards the existing cell wall. New cell wall material, including cellulose, pectin, and other polysaccharides, is delivered to the cell plate and deposited to reinforce its structure. This deposition continues until the cell plate reaches the cell periphery, fully separating the two daughter cells.
Ultimately, the cell plate matures into a complete cell wall, marking the completion of cytokinesis and allowing for functional independence between the newly formed plant cells. The formation and expansion of the cell plate are tightly regulated to ensure proper cell division and development in plants.
The word "cell plate" originates from the combination of the words "cell" and "plate".
The term "cell" comes from the Latin word "cella", meaning "small room" or "chamber". It was initially used in the 17th century to refer to the basic structural unit of plants, microorganisms, and animals.
On the other hand, "plate" comes from the Old French word "plate", which was derived from the Latin word "plata", meaning "flat" or "broad". In biology, "plate" is used to describe a thin, flat structure.
When combined, "cell plate" refers to a cell division process in which a structure composed of vesicles forms between two daughter cells during cytokinesis in plants. This structure develops into a new cell wall that separates the daughter cells.