Asked in Premeth past paper pool — BiologyModerate

During the lytic cycle, the function of lysozymes released by phage is to

Correct answer: B. Dissolve bacterial cell wall

  • A. Synthesise viral genome
  • B. Dissolve bacterial cell wall
  • C. Break down bacterial DNA
  • D. Speed up the formation of proteins

Explanation

In the lytic cycle, the correct function of lysozymes is to dissolve the bacterial cell wall, which allows the newly formed phage particles to burst out of the host cell. This is crucial for the release and spread of the virus. Other options are incorrect because they describe processes not associated with lysozyme activity: synthesizing viral genome and breaking down bacterial DNA are related to other viral functions, and speeding up protein formation is unrelated to lysozyme's enzymatic role in cell wall degradation.

Last updated

About Viruses

Viruses are acellular infectious particles made of genetic material enclosed by a protein capsid, sometimes with a lipid envelope. Their replication depends on a host cell and may follow lytic or lysogenic cycles, so viral structure and reproduction differ fundamentally from those of cellular organisms such as bacteria.

Practise Acellular Life

342 free Acellular Life MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Biology questions like this

Biology is on 6 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions