Which process concludes the M phase of the cell cycle?

Cytokinesis is the process that concludes the M phase of the cell cycle. During the M phase, which encompasses both mitosis and cytokinesis, the cell undergoes division. Mitosis is the process where the nucleus divides, and this is followed by cytokinesis, where the cytoplasmic contents are divided into two distinct daughter cells.

Cytokinesis ensures that the two new cells receive not only a full set of chromosomes but also sufficient organelles and cytoplasmic materials to function independently. In animal cells, this involves the formation of a cleavage furrow that pinches the cell membrane inward, while in plant cells, a cell plate forms, ultimately leading to the development of a new cell wall.

While telophase is part of the M phase where the chromosomes begin to de-condense and the nuclear envelope re-forms, it is essentially a precursor to cytokinesis. Interphase refers to the phase of the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division but is not part of the M phase itself, and prophase is the first stage of mitosis where chromatin condenses into chromosomes and the spindle apparatus begins to form. Thus, the correct conclusion of the M phase is indeed cytokinesis, which results in the physical separation