In the lysogenic cycle, how does viral genetic material behave?

In the lysogenic cycle, viral genetic material integrates into the host cell's DNA and remains dormant, allowing it to replicate along with the host's genetic material during cell division. This means that every time the host cell replicates, it also replicates the viral DNA, passing it on to daughter cells without immediately destroying the host. This integration allows the virus to exist in a stable state within the host until certain conditions trigger it to enter the lytic cycle, during which it begins to actively produce new viral particles and ultimately can destroy the host cell.

The other options do not accurately describe the behavior of viral genetic material in the lysogenic cycle. For instance, the lytic cycle is responsible for destroying the host cell, which is not the case in the lysogenic phase. Additionally, while viral proteins may eventually be produced, this occurs after the virus has exited the lysogenic state, not as a direct function of the dormant genetic material. Finally, the viral DNA in the lysogenic cycle does not exist outside the host in a dormant state; it is integrated into the host's genome.