Final answer:
The lysogenic cycle is when phage DNA integrates into the host genome and remains dormant, leading to potential lysogenic conversion but no new phage production. This can transition to the lytic cycle under stressful conditions, resulting in new phages and host cell lysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state where phage DNA integrates into the host genome without producing new phages is referred to as the lysogenic cycle. This contrasts with the lytic cycle, where phage DNA replicates independently and leads to the production of new phages and lysis of the host cell. In the lysogenic cycle, the phage's DNA, now called a prophage, is dormant within the host's genome and can be replicated along with the host's DNA during bacterial reproduction.
The lysogenic cycle can persist through numerous cell divisions but may be triggered to enter the lytic cycle under certain stressful conditions. This leads to the production of new phages and subsequent lysis of the bacterial cell. An example of a lysogenic bacteriophage is the lambda (λ) phage which infects Escherichia coli. The phenomenon where the host's phenotype is changed due to the presence of prophage is known as lysogenic conversion or phage conversion.