Final answer:
Bacteriophages require a host cell to replicate and can undergo either the lytic or lysogenic cycle. The lytic cycle results in the production of new virions and destruction of the host cell, whereas the lysogenic cycle integrates the phage DNA into the host genome, which can persist through cell generations until environmental stress triggers a switch to the lytic cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "scarlet faced" is likely a typographical error and does not pertain to the context of the question, which is about bacteriophages and their life cycles. Bacteriophages require a host to replicate, as they depend on the host cell's machinery to produce new virions.
Regarding whether a scarlet fever bacteriophage goes through the lysogenic or lytic cycle, it could potentially undergo either. In the lytic cycle, the phage replicates inside the host cell and then lyses (breaks open) the cell to release new phages. In the lysogenic cycle, the phage's DNA is incorporated into the host cell's genome and can be passed on to subsequent generations of cells. Under certain environmental stresses, such as UV light or chemical exposure, the prophage can excise itself from the host genome and enter the lytic cycle.
While both cycles can ultimately lead to the production of more virions, the lytic cycle does so immediately after infection, whereas the lysogenic cycle can persist for many cell generations before potentially entering the lytic cycle due to environmental conditions threatening the host cell.