Final answer:
The statement in question is false; bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacterial cells, not a type of bacteria that infect viruses. They can replicate through either the lytic or lysogenic cycles, depending on the type of bacteriophage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Bacteriophage is a type of bacteria that infects viruses." is false. Bacteriophages, often referred to as phages, are viruses that target and infect bacteria. They engage with bacteria by attaching to specific receptor molecules on the bacterial surface, at which point the phage's genetic material enters the bacterial cell. However, the protein coat of the bacteriophage remains outside.
Once inside, the bacteriophage leverages the host's cellular machinery to replicate its genetic material and produce new viral components. Depending on the type of phage, this can occur through either the lytic cycle or the lysogenic cycle. In the lytic cycle, like with the T4 phage infecting Escherichia coli, the bacterial cell is ultimately lysed, releasing new virions. In the lysogenic cycle, exemplified by the lambda phage, the viral DNA is integrated into the host cell's genome as a prophage and can replicate along with the host's DNA for an extended period before possibly entering the lytic cycle.