Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of producing or undergoing lysis: Describes a state or property where something can cause the disintegration of cells (lysis) or can itself be disintegrated.
   • Of or relating to lysogeny: Pertaining to a specific relationship between a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria) and its host bacterium, where the viral DNA integrates into the bacterial genome and replicates with it without immediately destroying the cell.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The scientist studied the lysogenic properties of the new bacteriophage strain. (The scientist studied the virus's ability to integrate into the bacterial genome without causing immediate lysis.)
  • In its lysogenic cycle, the virus remains dormant within the bacterial chromosome. (In this non-destructive cycle, the virus is inactive within the host's genetic material.)

Advanced Usage

• "lysogenic conversion": A process where a bacterium acquires new properties (e.g., toxin production) due to the integration of a prophage (viral DNA) during lysogeny.
  • The bacterium's ability to cause disease was a result of lysogenic conversion.
• "lysogenic bacterium": A bacterial cell that harbors a prophage.
  • The lysogenic bacterium can spontaneously enter the lytic cycle under stress.

Variants and Related Words

• Lysogeny (n): The biological state or process where a bacteriophage genome exists within a host bacterium as a prophage without causing lysis.
  • The study focused on the molecular mechanisms of lysogeny.
• Lysogen (n): A lysogenic bacterium; a bacterial cell that contains a prophage.
  • The lysogen was identified through genetic testing.
• Lytic (adj): Pertaining to or causing lysis, especially the cycle where a virus replicates and destroys the host cell. (This is often contrasted with lysogenic.)
  • The lytic cycle results in the immediate destruction of the host cell.

Synonyms

• Temperate (adj, in virology): Often used interchangeably with "lysogenic" to describe bacteriophages capable of both lysogenic and lytic cycles.
  • A temperate phage can choose between lysogeny and the lytic pathway.

Related Phrases and Terms

• Lysogenic cycle: The viral replication cycle characterized by the integration of viral DNA into the host genome.
  • The phage entered the lysogenic cycle, becoming a prophage.
• Induction (of a prophage): The process that triggers a prophage to exit the lysogenic state and enter the lytic cycle.
  • UV radiation can cause the induction of the prophage.

Adjective

1. capable of producing or undergoing lysis
2. of or relating to lysogeny