Which of the Following Steps is NOT Part of the Life

Question

Which of the following steps is NOT part of the life cycle of a lytic phage?
A) Phage DNA is injected into the bacterial cell.
B) The phage DNA integrates into the bacterial chromosome.
C) Many copies of phage DNA are made.
D) The phage DNA is transcribed, and the resulting mRNA is translated to make capsid proteins.
E) All of the steps listed are part of the life cycle of a lytic phage.

Accepted Answer

The integration of phage DNA into the bacterial chromosome is a step in the life cycle of a lysogenic phage, not a lytic phage. Lytic phages do not integrate their DNA into the host chromosome, but instead replicate and assemble new phage particles within the host cell before releasing them by lysing the cell.