Final answer:
Prokaryotic viruses can have both lytic and lysogenic cycles, leading to cell death or integration into the host genome respectively. Eukaryotic viruses, however, may also have lytic and lysogenic cycles, but can establish latency, remaining dormant within the host for extended periods without causing illness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Viral life cycles can be classified into two main categories: lytic and lysogenic cycles. Prokaryotic viruses, such as bacteriophages, can exhibit both types of cycles. In the lytic cycle, the virus infects the host cell, replicates, and then causes cell lysis, resulting in the release of new viral particles. In contrast, in the lysogenic cycle, the virus integrates its genetic material into the host genome, becoming a prophage, and can remain dormant within the host for an extended period before transitioning to the lytic cycle. This cycle can alter the phenotype of the host and contribute to its pathology.
Viruses that infect eukaryotic cells, including plants and animals, also have lytic and lysogenic cycles. However, there are some differences. For example, animal viruses often enter eukaryotic cells through endocytosis or membrane fusion, while bacteriophages inject their DNA into prokaryotic cells. Additionally, eukaryotic viruses may establish latency, where the viral genetic material remains dormant within the host for an extended period without causing significant harm. Herpesviruses in humans are an example of viruses that can establish latency and periodically reactivate to cause disease symptoms.