What is the active life cycle of a virus when it is actively replicating and spreading?

• A. Dormant cycle
• B. Replicative cycle
• C. Lytic cycle
• D. Lysogenic cycle

Answer: (C)

Active replication and spreading happens during the lytic cycle. In this pathway, the virus enters the cell and quickly hijacks its machinery to copy the viral genome and produce viral proteins. New virions are then assembled and released as the host cell bursts, allowing the virus to infect neighboring cells right away. The defining feature is rapid production of new viruses and destruction of the host cell to enable onward infection. In contrast, other modes like the lysogenic cycle involve the viral genome hiding in the host DNA and remaining dormant for a time, so there isn’t immediate, widespread production of new virions.