What is a bacteriophage and how does its lytic cycle work?
A bacteriophage is a virus that infects and reproduces inside bacteria.
In the lytic cycle, the bacteriophage attaches to a bacterial cell, injects its genetic material, uses the host's machinery to make new viruses, and finally causes the cell to burst (lyse), releasing new bacteriophages.
Steps:
Attachment
Penetration
Replication
Assembly
Lysis
Quick Fact: Bacteriophages are the most abundant viruses on Earth.