Virus Decision: Lytic or Lysogenic? The Secret Behind Phage Choices!

In this video, we explain when a bacteriophage enters the lytic cycle and when it chooses the lysogenic cycle — the two fascinating paths of viral life! The key lies in the relative expression of two genes — Cro and cI. The cI gene encodes a repressor protein that promotes the lysogenic cycle by inhibiting lytic genes. The Cro gene promotes the lytic cycle by blocking cI expression, leading the virus to replicate and lyse the host cell. Watch till the end to understand how these two opposing forces — Cro vs cI — control the fate of a bacteriophage! 🧬 👉 Topics Covered: Lytic and Lysogenic cycle overview Role of Cro and cI genes How environmental factors influence phage decisions Simple explanation for biology students 📚 Perfect for: BS Zoology, Microbiology, and Virology students! 💡 Don’t forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more biology explanations.