Grade 11 · Biology
The lytic & lysogenic cycles
Why it matters
How viruses replicate inside a host cell.
Core20m readingPrerequisite: Viral structure — are viruses alive?
What are the lytic and lysogenic cycles?
Short answer
The lytic and lysogenic cycles are two ways a virus replicates inside a host cell. In the lytic cycle the virus immediately hijacks the cell to make new viruses, then bursts (lyses) it to release them. In the lysogenic cycle the viral genome integrates into the host’s DNA and is copied silently for generations before switching to the lytic cycle later.
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Frequently asked questions
- What happens to the host cell in the lytic cycle?
- It is forced to make new virus particles and then bursts open (lyses), releasing them to infect other cells.
- How is the lysogenic cycle different?
- The viral DNA integrates into the host genome and is copied along with it, staying dormant until it enters the lytic cycle.