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Herpes simplex virus can sit silently in nerve tissue for years. Why is that state not called lysogeny?
AIts genome is RNA and not DNA
BIts genome never enters the host cell
CLysogenic cycle is kept for bacteriophages
DNo new virions ever form in lysogeny
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Lysogenic cycle is kept for bacteriophages
1. Herpes simplex virus can persist in nervous tissue for long periods without making new virions.
2. That state is called latency, and the virus leaves it periodically to cause skin lesions.
3. Lysogeny and latency resemble each other, since in both the virus persists quietly.
4. Even so, the term lysogenic cycle is usually reserved to describe bacteriophages.
5. So the reason is one of naming convention, not of genome chemistry.
6. Herpes simplex is a DNA virus, so the RNA option is factually wrong as well as beside the point.
7. A latent virus is inside the cell, so the option denying entry contradicts what latency means.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 21 "Viruses", section 21.2 Virus Infections and Hosts_
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