The Correct Order for the Stages of a Phage Infection

Question

The correct order for the stages of a phage infection is
A) penetration, transcription, attachment, replication of nucleic acid and protein, assembly, release.
B) attachment, penetration, transcription, replication of nucleic acid and protein, assembly, release.
C) attachment, replication of nucleic acid and protein, penetration, transcription, assembly, release.
D) transcription, attachment, replication of nucleic acid and protein, assembly, penetration, release.
E) attachment, replication of nucleic acid and protein, assembly, penetration, transcription, release.

Accepted Answer

The correct order of the stages of a phage infection is attachment, penetration, transcription, replication of nucleic acid and protein, assembly, and release. This is because the phage must first attach to a host cell, then penetrate the cell's membrane, use its nucleic acid to direct the synthesis of viral proteins, replicate its nucleic acid and protein components, assemble those components into new phage particles, and then release those particles from the host cell.