Question

Differentiate between :
Virulent (lytic) and avirulent (temperate) phages

Answer 1

The viruses which always multiply by using the host machinery when they enter the host cell and then cause the lysis of cells are called virulent (lytic) phages. On the other hand, the viruses whose nucleic acid gets incorporated in bacterial DNA and replicate along with it to constitute lysogenic cycle are said to beavirulent (temperate).