Lytic v. Lysogenic Cycles of Bacteriophages

3-Second Blueprint (English)

1. In the lytic cycle, injected phage DNA degrades the bacterial chromosome and hijacks host ribosomes to assemble and release virions.
2. In the lysogenic cycle, viral DNA integrates into the host chromosome as a dormant prophage and replicates passively as cells divide.
3. Environmental stressors such as UV radiation or chemicals trigger phage induction, excising prophage DNA to initiate lytic cell burst.