During Infection of a Bacterial Cell by a Bacteriophage

Question

During infection of a bacterial cell by a bacteriophage
A)new phage particles are produced and released when the cell lyses.
B)the phage DNA is incorporated into the host cell DNA and remains dormant.
C)the phage may carry some of the host cell DNA to the next cell it infects.
D)the phage DNA is incorporated into the bacterial chromosome and gives the bacterium new properties.
E)any of the above may occur.

Accepted Answer

During a bacteriophage infection, various outcomes can occur depending on the type of phage and the mode of infection. New phage particles can be produced leading to cell lysis (A), the phage DNA can integrate into the host genome and remain dormant as a prophage (B), the phage can accidentally package host DNA and transfer it to another cell (transduction) (C), and the integrated phage DNA can confer new properties to the bacterium (lysogenic conversion) (D). Therefore, any of the described scenarios may occur.