Definition of Lytic Cycle



The lytic cycle is a growth cycle in the life of a bacteriophage. It is also known as virulent infection. In this cycle, the phage has to kill the cell of the host in order to produce its own progeny. The phage injects its genome into the cell of host and takes hold of its cellular machinery by synthesizing the proteins required for breaking down the host DNA. Then the phage synthesizes the other proteins that help the phage in producing new phage particles.

 


The new daughter phage particles are constructed after the assembling of heads and sheaths and the heads enclose the genetic material. This process weakens the host cell and it eventually bursts and the progeny composed of approximately 100-200 new phages is released into the surrounding environment.


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