What is the final step of cell division that results in the formation of two daughter cells?

The final step of cell division that results in the formation of two daughter cells is cytokinesis. During mitosis or meiosis, once the chromosomes have been accurately separated into two sets, cytokinesis processes begin, physically dividing the cytoplasm and cellular components into two distinct daughter cells.

This step is crucial because, without cytokinesis, the two sets of chromosomes would remain in a single cell, resulting in a multinucleated cell rather than two separate cells. Cytokinesis typically involves the constriction of the cell membrane, often visualized as the formation of a cleavage furrow in animal cells or the construction of a cell plate in plant cells.

In contrast, the other processes mentioned, such as meiosis and chromosome segregation, are parts of the broader cell division cycle but are not the final physical manifestation of cell division. Cellular respiration, while vital for cell energy production, is unrelated to the process of cell division itself. Therefore, cytokinesis is specifically defined as the process that completes cell division by producing two daughter cells.