Bacteriophages can replicate through lytic cycles, where they destroy the host, or lysogenic cycles, where they integrate into the host genome.
How do bacteriophages replicate?
Practice Questions
Q1
How do bacteriophages replicate?
Binary fission
Budding
Lytic and lysogenic cycles
Mitosis
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
How do bacteriophages replicate?
Step 1: A bacteriophage attaches to a bacterium (the host) using its tail fibers.
Step 2: The bacteriophage injects its genetic material (DNA or RNA) into the bacterium.
Step 3: In the lytic cycle, the bacteriophage takes over the bacterium's machinery to make copies of itself, leading to the production of new bacteriophages.
Step 4: The bacterium eventually bursts (lyses), releasing the new bacteriophages to infect other bacteria.
Step 5: In the lysogenic cycle, the bacteriophage's genetic material integrates into the bacterium's genome and can remain dormant for a while.
Step 6: The bacterium replicates normally, copying the bacteriophage's genetic material along with its own.
Step 7: Under certain conditions, the bacteriophage can exit the lysogenic cycle, enter the lytic cycle, and produce new bacteriophages.
Lytic Cycle – A process where bacteriophages infect a host cell, replicate, and ultimately cause the cell to lyse, releasing new phages.
Lysogenic Cycle – A process where bacteriophages integrate their genetic material into the host's genome, allowing for replication along with the host cell without immediate destruction.
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