Which of the following steps is generally not part of the life cycle of a lytic phage?

• A. Synthesis of new phage particles
• B. Lysis of the host cell to release progeny phages
• C. Attachment of the phage to the bacterial cell
• D. Integration of phage DNA into the host genome

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the lytic phage life cycle, which typically includes the following key steps: attachment, penetration, synthesis, assembly, and lysis.
2. Identify that attachment involves the phage binding to the bacterial cell surface to initiate infection.
3. Recognize that synthesis refers to the production of new phage components inside the host cell after the phage DNA takes over the host machinery.
4. Know that lysis is the final step where the host cell breaks open, releasing newly formed phage particles.
5. Note that integration of phage DNA into the host genome is characteristic of the lysogenic cycle, not the lytic cycle, so this step is generally not part of the lytic phage life cycle.