In what stage of the virus life cycle does the host cell synthesize new viral DNA/RNA?

The replication stage of the virus life cycle is where the host cell synthesizes new viral DNA or RNA. During this phase, once the virus has successfully attached to and entered the host cell, it utilizes the host's cellular machinery to replicate its genetic material. This is an essential step for the virus, as it transforms the cell into a factory for producing new viral components.

In this stage, the viral genome is copied, leading to the formation of new viral nucleic acids that are necessary for creating new viral particles. This process is critical, as without replication, the virus would be unable to proliferate and spread to other cells.

The other stages—attachment, assembly, and release—serve different purposes. Attachment involves the virus binding to the host cell, assembly is where new viral particles are constructed from the replicated genetic material and proteins, and release is when newly formed viruses exit the host cell to infect additional cells. Each stage is vital for the viral life cycle, but it is specifically the replication stage that is focused on the synthesis of new viral DNA or RNA.