What occurs during the prophage pathway of Bacteriophage Lambda?

During the prophage pathway of Bacteriophage Lambda, lambda DNA integrates into the bacterial genome, establishing a dormant or quiescent state known as a prophage. This process is crucial for the lifecycle of temperate bacteriophages like Lambda, as it allows the viral DNA to be replicated along with the host cell's DNA during cellular division, without immediately taking over the host machinery to produce new viruses.

In this pathway, the integrated viral DNA (prophage) can remain in this state for extended periods, allowing for the possibility of entering the lytic cycle later under certain conditions, such as environmental stress. This integration does not result in cell lysis or synthesis of viral proteins, nor does it lead to the release of new virus particles during the prophage stage, which is characteristic of the lytic cycle. The choice describing the integration of lambda DNA into bacterial DNA captures the essence of the prophage pathway clearly and accurately.