What process allows a virus to release progeny while still keeping the host cell alive?

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Ace the MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Exam. Prepare with flashcards, multiple choice questions, and detailed explanations. Boost your confidence and excel in your test!

The process that allows a virus to release progeny while keeping the host cell alive is known as extrusion. In this context, extrusion refers to the mechanism by which newly formed viral particles exit the host cell without causing immediate destruction to it. This is typically achieved through a process of budding or exocytosis, where the virus takes advantage of the host cell's membrane to form a new virion that is released into the extracellular environment.

By utilizing this method, the virus can continue to replicate and produce new infectious particles while allowing the host cell to survive and potentially support additional round of viral replication. This strategy can be beneficial for the virus as it minimizes immediate host cell death, which would otherwise limit the virus's ability to spread and infect other cells.

The other processes mentioned do not enable the virus to maintain the host cell's viability during release. For instance, lysis leads to the complete rupture of the host cell, resulting in cell death. Budding can also often be synonymous with extrusion, but it typically implies that part of the viral envelope is derived from the host cell membrane, while extrusion focuses more on the process of release. Endocytosis, on the other hand, is a method of viral entry into the host cell, not a

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