Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

What occurs in the lytic cycle of viral reproduction?

1. The host cell survives

2. The virus incorporates its DNA into the host genome

3. The reproductive cycle ends in the death of the host

4. The virus remains dormant

The correct answer is: The reproductive cycle ends in the death of the host

In the lytic cycle of viral reproduction, the primary characteristic is that the reproductive cycle culminates in the death of the host cell. During this process, a virus attaches to a susceptible host cell, injects its genetic material, and repurposes the host's cellular machinery to produce viral components. These components are assembled into new viral particles, which then lead to the lysis, or rupture, of the host cell, releasing the newly formed virions into the environment. This destruction of the host cell is a hallmark of the lytic cycle, making it distinct from other viral reproductive mechanisms such as the lysogenic cycle, where the viral DNA integrates into the host genome without killing the host. In summary, the lytic cycle is characterized by active viral replication and the resultant death of the host cell, which reinforces the correctness of identifying that the reproductive cycle ends in the death of the host.