Each bacteriophage follows one of two replication cycles: lytic and/or lysogenic. During the lytic cycle (Figure 3), the tail of the bacteriophage docks onto receptors on the surface of the host bacteria. Next, the tail contracts and injects the nucleic acid into the host. Finally, the nucleic acids are transcribed (DNA is copied to RNA by matching the DNA bases with complementary  RNA bases) and translated (proteins are produced from the transcribed RNA at ribosomes) by the bacteria's own machinery to replicate the phage. The subsequent stage depends on the nucleic acid of the bacteriophage. If the nucleic acid in the bacteriophage is DNA, the DNA utilizes the host’s RNA polymerase and ribosomes to perform transcription and translation in order to produce the icosahedral capsids and tails. This creates protein "shells'' of bacteriophages because the nucleic acid has not yet been added. If the nucleic acid is RNA, only translation is needed in order to produce the same product.
After biosynthesis, maturation begins. Maturation involves the replication of the nucleic acid and the insertion of that molecule into the protein “shells,” creating mature phages. Depending on the nucleic acid of the bacteriophage, the phage utilizes different enzymes in the bacteria host to replicate the genetic material. Once the bacteriophages have matured, they breach the cell wall, lysing the bacteria, and are released into the environment.[8]