Question

A population of bacterial cells becomes infected by the phage lambda.  If the population's food supply runs out, which of the following would you expect to observe?

	A.	an increase in binary fission
	B.	an increase in the number of prophages
	C.	lysis of all cells
	D.	A and B
	E.	A, B, and C
	F.	none of the above

Answer 1

• Infectious virus particle may sometime stay as dormant.
• in case of lysogenic viruses or chronic viral infection, called progeny phage.
• This period is called the latent period.
• However, under certain drastic condition, progeny phage follows lytic cycle and lyse the cell.
• Thus, when the food supply for the bacterial cell becomes limited, drastic condition is created.
• The lysogenic prophage then undergoes lytic cycle.
• As a resul the bacterial cells are lysed.

Answer: C