Differentiate between the lysogenic and lytic cycles. (1 point)

Question

• The host cell copies its own DNA during the lytic cycle.
• The host cell is destroyed during the lytic cycle.
• The virus injects DNA into the host cell during the lysogenic cycle.
• Viral proteins are synthesized during the lysogenic cycle.

Answer 1

The key differences between the lysogenic and lytic cycles are as follows:

1. Host Cell Destruction: In the lytic cycle, the host cell is destroyed at the end of the cycle when new viruses are released. In contrast, during the lysogenic cycle, the virus integrates its genetic material into the host cell's DNA and does not immediately destroy the host.

2. Viral DNA Integration: In the lysogenic cycle, the virus injects its DNA into the host, which incorporates the viral DNA into its own genome, allowing for replication each time the host cell divides. In the lytic cycle, the viral DNA does not integrate; instead, it replicates independently to produce new viral particles.

3. Viral Protein Synthesis: Viral proteins are primarily synthesized during the lytic cycle when the host cell machinery is hijacked to produce new viral components. In the lysogenic cycle, viral proteins are generally not synthesized until the virus enters the lytic phase.

Thus, while both cycles involve the interaction between a virus and a host cell, they differ significantly in their outcomes and mechanisms.