Final answer:
Lambda phages are packaged during viral assembly by synthesizing new capsids and packaging viral DNA into them. This can occur during the lytic cycle or can be manipulated in a laboratory setting for genomic libraries or transduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lambda phages are packaged by synthesizing new viral components that form the head and then packaging the viral DNA into these newly formed capsids during viral assembly. This occurs in the lytic cycle, where the lambda phage DNA directs the production of new phages that eventualy lyse the host cell, releasing the mature virions. In the lysogenic cycle, the phage DNA integrates into the host genome as a prophage, rather than forming new viral particles immediately. When a lambda phage is excised from the bacterial chromosome, this can sometimes result in the translocation of bacterial genes near the integration site into the phage head. For the purposes of creating genomic libraries or introducing recombinant DNA into host cells, phage DNA can be packaged into mature lambda phage particles after synthesized the necessary components.