What is the Difference Between Lambda Phage and M13 Phage?

Lambda phage and M13 phage are two types of bacteriophages that infect bacterial cells, specifically Escherichia coli (E. coli). They are both used as cloning vectors in genetic engineering. The main differences between lambda phage and M13 phage are:

• Structure: Lambda phage is a head to tailed bacteriophage with a linear double-stranded genome. In contrast, M13 phage is a filamentous bacteriophage with a single-stranded circular genome.
• Genome Size: The size of the lambda phage genome is about 48 kb, while the size of the M13 phage genome is about 6.4 kb.
• Family: Lambda phage belongs to the family Siphoviridae, while M13 phage belongs to the family Inoviridae.
• Life Cycle: Lambda phage is a temperate phage that undergoes both lytic and lysogenic cycles. On the other hand, M13 phage releases without killing the bacterial cell.

In summary, lambda phage and M13 phage are two types of bacteriophages that infect E. coli and are used as cloning vectors in genetic engineering. They differ in their structure, genome size, family, and life cycle.

Comparative Table: Lambda Phage vs M13 Phage

Here is a table comparing the differences between Lambda Phage and M13 Phage:

Lambda Phage and M13 Phage are both bacteriophages that infect E. coli and are widely used as cloning vectors in genetic engineering.