During which stage of cell division do two new daughter cells form as the cell becomes pinched?

The process of cell division concludes with the formation of two new daughter cells during telophase. At this stage, the chromosomes have been separated and moved to opposite ends of the cell during anaphase. Once the genetic material is segregated, the cell prepares to divide its cytoplasm in a process called cytokinesis, which occurs concurrently with telophase.

During telophase, the nuclear envelopes re-form around the separated chromosomes, and the chromosomes start to decondense back into chromatin. The most characteristic event in this stage is the final pinching of the cell membrane, which leads to the physical separation of the two daughter cells. The pinching occurs at the cleavage furrow, where the cytoskeleton aids in tightening the cell membrane, ultimately leading to two distinct cells.

The other stages mentioned do not involve the formation of daughter cells. Prophase is the stage where chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope begins to break down, but cell division has not yet occurred. Metaphase is characterized by the alignment of chromosomes along the cell's equatorial plane. Anaphase is when the sister chromatids are pulled apart toward opposite poles but does not yet result in the formation of new cells. Therefore, telophase is the correct