Bacteriophage

Viruses are some of the most complicated organisms known. They're so complicated that scientists don't know if they should be classified as living organisms. A bacteriophage is type of virus that infects bacteria and is roughly 20-200nm long. A bacteriophage may reproduce using a lytic cylce or lysogenic cycle. During the lytic cycle, the bacteriophage inserts its nucleic acid into the host cell and uses the host cell machinery to replicate. The host cell then bursts open or lyses and the virions are released. During the lysogenic cycle the viral genome incorporates itself into the host cell DNA. The host cell does not die immediately. The viral genome combines with the host cell DNA to form a prophage. Bacteriophages are some of the most widely studied viruses. Rockland Immunochemical, Emd Chemicals Inc, Himedia Laboratories all provide products used to study viruses and bacteria.