The lambda phage has two different life cycles. In the lysogenic cycle, it's genome inserts itself into the host cell's genome and lies dormant until the host cell experiences stress. When this happens, it goes into the lytic cycle, which involves massive replication leading to amplification of the virus and lysis of the cell.

The lytic cycle is one of the two cycles of viral reproduction, the other being the lysogenic cycle. These cycles should not, however, be seen as separate, but rather as somewhat interchangeable. The lytic cycle is typically considered the main method of viral replication, since it results in the destruction of the infected cell.