self-replication
nounUK /ˌself ˌreplɪˈkeɪʃn/
US /ˌself ˌreplɪˈkeɪʃn/
Self-replication is when a thing makes a copy of itself.
The robot was designed for self-replication, so it could build more robots just like itself.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In biology, the process by which a living cell or organism makes an identical copy of itself.
DNA self-replication allows cells to divide and pass on genetic information.
3. In computing, a program's ability to create copies of itself, often used by viruses and worms.
The worm's self-replication let it spread quickly across the network.
4. In nanotechnology, the ability of a machine or system to build copies of itself from raw materials.
Researchers studied self-replication in molecular machines.