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Self Replication

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 269 Accesses

Synonyms

Reproduction; Self-duplication; Self-reproduction

Keywords

Autocatalysis, evolution

Definition

Self-replication is a property of a system enabling it to make a functional and independent copy of itself.

Overview

Self-replication is a general concept that can apply to systems of different nature (physical or theoretical) and of different scale (microscopic or macroscopic). It relies on the existence of an internal mechanism for the duplication of the full system. This implies the ability for the duplication mechanism to make a copy of itself. The replicated system becomes a fully functional entity, separated from the parent system, possessing the same properties. Namely, it must be able to replicate itself again. A minimal self-replicative system can be reduced to this sole function, in which case it can do nothing but generate copies of itself. More complex systems can perform additional functions. In this case, the replicative system must be able to reproduce not only itself,...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nordita, Roslagstullsbacken 23, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden

    Prof. Raphaël Plasson

Authors
  1. Prof. Raphaël Plasson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raphaël Plasson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysicist, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, BP 89, 33270, Floirac, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Departamento de Planetología y Habitabilidad Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus Cantoblanco, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  3. Department of Astrophysics, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC) Ctra de Ajalvir km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20015, USA

    Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

  5. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts Lederle Graduate Research, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9305, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. GEOTOP & Départment des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, CP 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Daniele L. Pinti

  7. Astrobiology, CNES/DSP/EU, 2 place Maurice-Quentin, 75039, Paris, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Plasson, R. (2011). Self Replication. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_1422

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