Final answer:
The false statement about viral replication is that viruses can replicate independently; they need a host cell's machinery to do so. The replication process includes lytic and lysogenic cycles, with the lysogenic cycle having the potential to produce more virions over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is not true of viral replication is a) Viruses can replicate independently. Viruses are unable to replicate without the use of a host cell's machinery. After a virus attaches to a host cell and inserts its genetic material, the viral replication process can proceed through lytic or lysogenic cycles. In the lytic cycle, the virus hijacks the host cell's machinery to make more viruses, leading to the host cell's destruction. Conversely, during the lysogenic cycle, the viral DNA is incorporated into the host cell's genome and is replicated along with the cell's own DNA, which can eventually lead to the production of more virions.
The lytic cycle causes damage to the host cell while the lysogenic cycle does not immediately harm the host. Furthermore, environmental stressors can sometimes trigger a virus in the lysogenic cycle to enter the lytic phase. Ultimately, the replication cycle that potentially produces the most virions is the lysogenic cycle, as the viral genome can proliferate over time within the host's genome before potentially entering the lytic cycle.