Final answer:
The type of viral replication where viral DNA integrates into the host cell's genome and persists over generations is called the lysogenic cycle. This allows the virus, like HIV, to remain dormant and replicate with the host's DNA over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of viral replication in which viral DNA is incorporated into the host cell's genome and can remain dormant for years is known as the lysogenic cycle.
In the lysogenic cycle, viral DNA becomes integrated into the host cell's DNA, and is replicated along with it during each cell division. This integration means that the viral genetic material can be maintained over several generations of host cells. Unlike the lytic cycle, which involves the destruction of the host cell to release new virions, the lysogenic cycle allows the virus to persist in a dormant state without causing immediate harm to the cell. HIV is an example of a virus that utilizes this strategy by incorporating its genome into the DNA of immune cells, thereby establishing a long-term infection.
Viral DNA that gets incorporated into the host genome in this manner is sometimes referred to as a provirus or prophage when discussing bacteriophages. Latent infection, where the virus lies dormant within its host, can be related to the lysogenic cycle, although the exact mechanisms and outcomes can vary depending on the virus and the host species.