Scientists have discovered how to put together a bacteriophage with the protein coat of phage T2 and the DNA of phage lambda. If this composite phage were allowed to infect a bacterium, the phages produced in the host cell would have _________. (Explain your answer.) a. the protein of T2 and the DNA of lambda b. the protein of lambda and the DNA of T2 c. the protein and DNA of T2 d. the protein and DNA of lambda

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the structure of a bacteriophage, which consists of a protein coat (capsid) and genetic material (DNA or RNA).
2. Recognize that the protein coat determines the initial interaction and entry of the phage into a specific host bacterium, but does not influence the genetic material replicated inside the host.
3. Identify that the genetic material (DNA of phage lambda in this case) inside the protein coat is what is replicated and packaged into new phages inside the host cell.
4. Realize that the new phages produced will have their protein coats synthesized according to the genetic instructions of the infecting DNA, which in this scenario is from phage lambda.
5. Conclude that the phages produced in the host cell will have the protein coat specified by the phage lambda DNA and the DNA of phage lambda, leading to the correct answer.

Key Concepts

Bacteriophage Structure

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They consist of a protein coat, known as a capsid, which encases their genetic material, either DNA or RNA. In this question, the phage T2's protein coat and lambda's DNA are combined, highlighting the importance of understanding how the structural components of phages function during infection.

Genetic Material and Protein Synthesis

The genetic material of a phage dictates the characteristics of the progeny phages produced within a host bacterium. When a phage infects a bacterium, it injects its DNA, which then hijacks the host's cellular machinery to produce new phage proteins and replicate its DNA. This concept is crucial for determining the traits of the resulting phages based on the DNA used in the composite phage.

Recombination in Phages

Recombination refers to the process by which genetic material is exchanged between different organisms or viruses. In the context of phages, if a composite phage with T2's protein and lambda's DNA infects a bacterium, the resulting phages will inherit the protein coat from T2 and the DNA from lambda. Understanding this process is essential for predicting the characteristics of the new phages produced.