What occurs every time bacterial DNA replicates in the prophage pathway?

When bacterial DNA replicates in the prophage pathway, lambda DNA also replicates. In this context, the prophage is a bacteriophage DNA that has integrated itself into the bacterial genome. During the normal replication of the bacterial cell, the prophage DNA is replicated alongside the bacterial DNA. This occurs because the prophage is a part of the bacterial chromosome, ensuring that it is passed on to daughter cells when the bacteria divide.

The scenario is distinct from processes involved in the lytic cycle, where new viruses are synthesized and can lead to cell lysis. In the prophage state, the virus remains dormant and is copied silently without causing immediate harm to the host. This characteristic allows the bacterium carrying the prophage to replicate and grow, while the prophage DNA ensures its own propagation by remaining within the bacterial genome during replication.