Phage

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-020821",
  "term": "Phage",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "A virus that infects bacteria. Many phages have proved useful in the study of molecular biology and as vectors for the transfer of genetic information between cells. Lytic phage (e.g., the T series phage that infect Escherichia coli [coliphages]), invariably lyse a cell following infection; temperate phage (e.g., lambda bacteriophage) can also undergo a lytic cycle or can enter a lysogenic cycle, in which the phage DNA is incorporated into that of the host, awaiting a signal that initiates events leading to replication of the virus and lysis of the host cell.",
  "references": [
    "NIH National Center for Biotechnology Information Bookshelf Microbial Evolution and Co-Adaptation Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/phage/"
}