self-replicating
Makes its own copies
Self-replicating describes something that makes copies of itself.
The term appears most often in biology and computing: DNA is a self-replicating molecule, and a self-replicating virus spreads by copying itself to other systems.
The concept extends to machines, ideas, or any system that can reproduce without external intervention: self-replicating nanobots, self-replicating memes.
Nuclear division producing identical cells
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- cell divisionParent splitting into offspring
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- genesUnits of heredity
fission · heredity · organism · gamete · zygote · embryo · fertilization · allele
Submicroscopic robotic devices
- 3D printingCreating objects by depositing layers
- roboticsAutomaton design field
- automationSelf-operating system design
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
assembly · manufacturing · mechatronics · self-assembly · grey goo
Shared online humor
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- spreadingExtending over space
- infectiousAble to spread disease
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
propagating · exponential · outbreak · epidemic · pandemic · chain reaction · superspreader · transmission
Finite problem-solving procedure
- recursiveDefined in terms of itself
- codeSymbolic communication system
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- wormLimbless soil invertebrate
virus · script · bot · iterative · loop · subroutine · macro
Increase in number
- propagateSpread or breed further
- exponential growthQuantity multiplying proportionally over time
- snowballCompressed winter precipitation
- compoundCombined into one
cascade · amplify · spread · expand · burgeon · mushroom · escalate · duplicate
Able to continue independently
- self-perpetuatingContinuing without outside help
- self-organizingStructuring without external control
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- self-regulatingAdjusting without external control
mitosis
Nuclear division producing identical cells
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- cell divisionParent splitting into offspring
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
genes · fission · heredity · organism · gamete · zygote · embryo · fertilization · allele · mutation
nanobots
Submicroscopic robotic devices
- 3D printingCreating objects by depositing layers
- roboticsAutomaton design field
- automationSelf-operating system design
fabrication · assembly · manufacturing · mechatronics · self-assembly · grey goo
meme
Shared online humor
- contagiousTransmissible between people
- spreadingExtending over space
- infectiousAble to spread disease
transmissible · propagating · exponential · outbreak · epidemic · pandemic · chain reaction · superspreader · transmission · host
algorithm
Finite problem-solving procedure
- recursiveDefined in terms of itself
- codeSymbolic communication system
- malwareHarmful computer programs
worm · virus · script · bot · iterative · loop · subroutine · macro
multiply
Increase in number
- propagateSpread or breed further
- exponential growthQuantity multiplying proportionally over time
- snowballCompressed winter precipitation
compound · cascade · amplify · spread · expand · burgeon · mushroom · escalate · duplicate · spawn
self-sustaining
Able to continue independently
- self-perpetuatingContinuing without outside help
- self-organizingStructuring without external control
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
self-regulating · feedback loop · bootstrap · homeostasis · closed-loop
self-replicatingself-limiting
Automatically constraining its scope
self-destructing · one-off · ephemeral · terminal · dying out
reproduce, reproduction, replicate, replication, reproduced, reproducing, replicated, replicating, replicable