Lytic and lysogenic cycles | Viruses | High school biology | Khan Academy

In the lytic cycle, a virus infects a host cell and uses the cell’s machinery to make copies of itself. This process increases the number of viruses inside the host cell until it bursts (or lyses), releasing new viruses that can infect other cells. In the lysogenic cycle, a virus infects a host cell and then integrates its genetic material into the host's DNA. The viral genetic material is replicated along with the host's DNA whenever the cell divides. This cycle can switch to the lytic cycle under certain triggers, such as stress or environmental signals.

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