Question

Explain the replication of bacteriophage with the help of a suitable diagram.

Answer 1

Hint: Bacteriophage is a virus that replicates and infects only bacterial cells. Viruses are obligate parasites that are considered as acellular organisms. They behave like living organisms inside any living body. Replication is the process of formation of multiple copies of the phage genome.

Complete answer:
The bacteriophage virus is often used as a cloning vector for various biotechnology applications. But, it requires any living host’s bacterial body to replicate which is a very complex procedure. During replication, the phage attaches to the host bacterial cells, it introduces its gene to the cytoplasm of the host cell. Then it uses the ribosomes of the host cells to make proteins.

The replication of bacteriophage involves the following steps:
1. The process of bacteriophage replication starts with the attachment of phage to E. coli and injection of the phage chromosome.
2. The breakdown of bacterial chromosomes through phage-specific enzymes has occurred.
3. As a result, the chromosome of phages is replicated by using bacterial materials and enzymes of phage.
4. The genes of phages express themselves in order to produce phage structural components.
5. The progeny phage particles are assembled at this stage.
6. At last the bacterial wall undergoes lysis resulting in the release of progeny phages.

Note: The structure of bacteriophage contains a protein capsule. It needs a host body to replicate. The bacterial plasmid has the ability to form multiple clones of any foreign DNA segment. The bacterium E.coli, as well as bacteriophage, are considered as the most widely used cloning vector in certain genetic engineering processes.