what is the lytic cycle?
i looked online and they give all of these confusing answers!!! i found this, but it doesnt make sense
•Attachment of virus to host cell
•Infection of DNA/RNA into the host cell
•Virus turns off the host cell’s genes
•Host cell manufactures the proteins and DNA/RNA
•Assembly of the viruses from proteins and DNA/RNA
2 Responses
Scott
08 Mar 2010
Pookie
08 Mar 2010
It is one of the 2 cycles of viral reproduction. The lytic cycle is typically considered the main method of viral replication, since it results in the destruction of the infected cell.
Hope that’s not as confusing!
Well, there are (basically) two cycles a virus can enter: the lytic or lysogenic pathways. Some viruses can only enter the lytic.
Anyway, the lysogenic cycle is where the virus enters the host cell (like yours or mine) and inserts itself into the host cell’s DNA. It doesn’t do anything for a while until it "decides" that the conditions are right for it to leave. At this point it enters the lytic cycle. The virus takes over the cell, turning it into a factory for more viruses. After all of the resources in the cell have been used up, the cell tears open and the new viruses escape. The process starts again.
If a virus begins with the lytic cycle, it enters the cell, takes over the cell immediately, uses up all of the cell’s material in order to make more viruses, and then causes the cell to erupt and the viruses all spill out.
The list that you found is simply the step-by-step plan of the virus.
1. It attaches to the outside of the host cell.
2. It insert its genetic material (DNA or RNA) into the host cell. This is like injecting medicine into someone’s arm with a needle. The virus body is now empty and "dead" on the surface of the cell, but its DNA is now inside.
3. The virus DNA directs the construction of machinery that turns off all of the host cell’s machinery. It also destroys the host cell’s DNA, rendering the cell helpless.
4. The cell is now a factory under the control of the virus DNA. The virus DNA then directs the construction of more virus bodies and virus DNA.
5. The new virus bodies and DNA are assembled into functional viruses, and the host cell is destroyed so that they can escape and infect other cells.
I hope this was helpful.