What is a prophage?

A prophage refers to the genetic material of a bacteriophage that has integrated itself into the chromosome of a bacterial host. This integration allows the viral DNA to remain dormant within the host's genome, where it can be replicated along with the bacterial DNA during cell division. This state is often part of the lysogenic cycle, where the virus does not immediately destroy the host cell but instead replicates with it.

This process is significant because it allows the prophage to be passed on to daughter cells when the bacterial cell divides. Under certain conditions, the prophage can exit the host chromosome and enter the lytic cycle, resulting in the production of new virus particles and eventually leading to cell lysis. Understanding the role of prophages is crucial in fields such as genetics and microbiology, particularly in studying bacteriophages and their interactions with bacteria.