T4 infects Escherichia coli of the human gut and bursts the cell open. Which replication cycle is that?
AThe latency cycle
BThe lytic cycle
CThe lysogenic cycle
DThe budding cycle
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The lytic cycle
1. A bacteriophage infection that yields new virions is called productive.
2. If those virions are released by bursting the cell, the virus is replicating by the lytic cycle.
3. T4 is the named example of a lytic bacteriophage, and it infects Escherichia coli of the human intestinal tract.
4. In the lysogenic cycle the phage genome joins the host genome instead of bursting the cell, so that option is the opposite case.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 21 "Viruses", section 21.2 Virus Infections and Hosts_
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