Final answer:
In the lytic cycle, a virus replicates within a host cell and then causes the cell to burst, releasing new virions. This is distinct from the lysogenic cycle where the viral DNA is incorporated into the host cell's genome without immediate destruction of the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the lytic cycle, the virus replicates and bursts out of the host cell. This is a type of virus replication where virions are released through lysis, or bursting, of the cell. Bacteriophages that use the lytic cycle to replicate, like phage T4, are considered virulent because they ultimately destroy the host cells by lysing them. This is different from the lysogenic cycle, where the viral DNA is incorporated into the host cell's genome and lies dormant, being replicated along with the host cell's DNA during cell division. The lysogenic cycle does not destroy the host cell immediately but can potentially shift to the lytic cycle under certain environmental stressors, leading to the production of virions and the destruction of the host cell.