Question

Which of the following characteristics is typical of the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage? A) Viral DNA is incorporated into the host genome. B) The viral genome replicates without destroying the host. C) A large number of phages are released at a time. D) The virus-host relationship usually lasts for generations

Answer 1

The correct answer is: C) A large number of phages are released at a time

Lytic cycle of a bacteriophage is one of the two life cycles of viruses, other being lysogenic. Lytic cycle can be divided in stages:

• Attachment-viruses binds to the receptor on the surface of bacterial cell, usually it uses tail for the attachment

• Entrance-virus injects its genome material (DNA or RNA) into bacteria cell

• Replication and protein synthesis-virus uses mechanism of bacteria to replicate its genome and produce proteins. As a consequence, a huge number of new viruses are formed

• Lysis- viruses express protein for the bacterial lysis (bacterial cell expand and burst) and  hundreds of new phages are released.