AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Attachment: Proteins in the “tail” of the phage bind to a specific receptor (in this case, a sugar transporter) on the surface of the bacterial cell. Entry: The phage injects its double-stranded DNA genome into the cytoplasm of the bacterium.

Detailed explanation-2: -It starts with the virus finding and binding the corresponding receptors on the host cell. After the strong contact is established, the cellular membrane is pierced and the viral DNA is eventually ejected into the host cell.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Hershey and Chase experiment with phage T2 [1] led to the idea that phages inject their DNA via a syringe-like mechanism, an idea that was popularized by the earliest molecular genetics textbooks [e.g., 2, 3].

Detailed explanation-4: -A phage attaches to a bacterium and injects its DNA into the bacterial cell. The bacterium then turns into a phage factory, producing as many as 100 new phages before it bursts, releasing the phages to attack more bacteria. This means that phages can grow much more quickly than bacteria.

Detailed explanation-5: -Subsequently, the bacterio-phage genome is injected through the tube. The structural transformation of the bacteriophage T4 baseplate upon binding to the host cell has been recently described in near-atomic detail.