Chapter 6, Problem 6P

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The differences between the bacteriophage lytic cycle and lysogenic cycle

Introduction:

Bacteriophages are very small viral particles that infect bacterial host cells. The replication of phage DNA, transcription of phage genes, and translation, which produces phage proteins is dependent on a large number of enzymes and compounds found in host bacterial cells as bacteriophages are obligatory intracellular parasites. Bacteriophages use a variety of mechanisms to attack bacteria. Once attached to bacterial cell, bacteriophages commence a six-step process called lytic cycle in which the infection leads to the rupture of the host cell. Some groups of bacteriophages called temperate phages are capable of a temporary alternative life cycle which leads to the temporary integration of phage chromosome into the bacterial host chromosome. This integration process is called as lysogeny.