Most Temperate Phages Integrate into the Host Chromosome, Whereas Some

Multiple Choice

Most temperate phages integrate into the host chromosome, whereas some replicate as plasmids. Which kind of relationship do you think would be more likely to maintain the phage in the host cell, and why?

A) Plasmids-they're smaller, so they'd be easier to replicate by the host cell.
B) Integrated-the host cell would be less likely to view this DNA as 'foreign' on subsequent rounds of replication, and would retain it more easily.
C) Plasmids-these structures often carry other genes that may give the host cell a selective advantage over cells that don't have them.
D) Integration-because plasmids are frequently lost in the first round of binary fission, which could leave a cell without the virus genome.