How is the latency of animal viruses different from the lysogeny of bacteriophages?

• A. Latency results in the destruction of the host cell, whereas lysogeny preserves the host cell.
• B. Latency involves the integration of viral DNA into the host genome, while lysogeny does not.
• C. Latency occurs in animal cells and can remain dormant for long periods, while lysogeny involves integration into the bacterial genome and can be triggered to enter the lytic cycle.
• D. Latency can result in a dormant state without immediate replication, whereas lysogeny involves immediate viral replication.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the basic definitions: Latency refers to a period where a virus is present in the host cell but not actively replicating. Lysogeny is a phase in the life cycle of some bacteriophages where the viral DNA is integrated into the host bacterium's genome.
2. Identify the host type: Latency occurs in animal cells, whereas lysogeny occurs in bacterial cells. This is a fundamental difference in the types of organisms affected by these processes.
3. Examine the integration process: In lysogeny, the viral DNA integrates into the bacterial genome, becoming a prophage. In latency, the viral DNA may or may not integrate into the host genome, depending on the virus.
4. Consider the replication and dormancy: Latency can result in a dormant state where the virus does not replicate immediately. In contrast, lysogeny involves the viral DNA being replicated along with the host's DNA during cell division, but it can remain dormant until triggered to enter the lytic cycle.
5. Analyze the outcome for the host cell: In latency, the host cell is typically not destroyed immediately, allowing the virus to persist for long periods. In lysogeny, the host cell is preserved until the prophage is induced to enter the lytic cycle, which leads to the production of new viruses and eventual destruction of the host cell.