What differentiates the lytic cycle from the lysogenic cycle in viral infection?

The lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle are two distinct phases of viral replication that highlight the differing interactions between a virus and its host cell.

In the lytic cycle, the virus invades a host cell, replicates rapidly, and ultimately leads to the cell's destruction through the release of new viral particles. This cycle is characterized by the immediate uptake and expression of viral genes, resulting in the production of viral components that culminate in the lysis (breaking open) of the host cell, leading to cell death.

In contrast, the lysogenic cycle involves the integration of the viral genome into the host's genome, a process known as lysogeny. Instead of immediate destruction, the viral DNA (now called a prophage in bacteriophages or provirus in other viruses) persists in a dormant state within the host cell's DNA. The host cell continues to divide and replicate its own DNA, including the integrated viral DNA, without causing any immediate harm. Under certain conditions, the viral genome can be excised from the host genome and enter the lytic cycle, leading to potential cell destruction.

Thus, the key differentiator between these two cycles is how the viral presence affects the host cell: immediate destruction in the lytic cycle