What term describes the viral reproductive cycle where the host cell is destroyed?

The lytic cycle refers to the viral reproductive process where the virus invades a host cell, takes over the cell's machinery to replicate its genetic material, assembles new virus particles, and ultimately causes the cell to burst, or lyse, releasing the newly formed viruses into the surrounding environment. This process is characterized by the destruction of the host cell, which is a key outcome of the lytic cycle.

In contrast, the lysogenic cycle involves the integration of viral DNA into the host's genome, allowing the virus to remain dormant and replicate along with the host cell without causing immediate destruction. The chronic cycle is not a standard term in virology, while transduction refers to the transfer of genetic material between bacteria via a virus, which doesn’t necessarily involve cell lysis. Thus, the lytic cycle is the correct term for the process resulting in host cell destruction.