Final answer:
In the lytic cycle, the host cell is lysed and its DNA is destroyed as the virus replicates and releases new virions. The description of prophage creation pertains to the lysogenic cycle and not the lytic cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a result of the lytic cycle, the host cell's DNA is destroyed, and the cell itself is eventually lysed (destroyed). In this cycle, a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria) injects its DNA into the host cell. This viral DNA then commandeers the host's cellular machinery to replicate its DNA and produce viral components. Once the new virions (viral particles) are assembled, the host cell is lysed to release them, enabling the infection of other cells. In contrast, during the lysogenic cycle, the phage's DNA is incorporated into the host genome as a prophage and can remain passive for a period of time, replicating along with the host cell's DNA. A prophage may be activated to enter the lytic cycle due to environmental stressors such as starvation or exposure to toxic chemicals. This is why the creation of a prophage is specifically associated with the lysogenic cycle, not the lytic cycle.