"Molecularassemblers"
have been confused with self-replicating machines. The nanoscale size of a typical science fiction universal molecularassembler
requires an extremely large number of such devices in order to produce a
practical quantity of a desired product. However, if one were able to
construct a single such molecularassembler
then it might be programmed to self-replicate, constructing many copies of
itself, allowing an exponential rate of production. Then after sufficient
quantities of the molecularassemblers
were available, they would then be re-programmed for production of the
desired product. However, if self-replication of molecularassemblers
were not restrained then it might lead to competition with naturally
occurring organisms. This has been called ecophagy
or the grey goo problem
More
accurately labeled "exponential replication," self-replication refers to the process of growth or replication involving doubling within a given
period. [ZY] Examp[le: create one assembler.
Program it to create another, and program that one likewise, etcetera, until
you have a speficied amount [which is the important part -- how to make them
STOP].
More
accurately labeled "exponential replication," self-replication refers to the process of growth or replication involving doubling within a given
period. Example: create one assembler.
Program it to create another, and program that one likewise, etc, until you
have a specified amount
More
accurately labeled "exponential replication," self-replication refers to the process of growth or replication involving doubling within a given
period. [ZY] Examp[le: create one assembler.
Program it to create another, and program that one likewise, etcetera, until
you have a speficied amount [which is the important part -- how to make them
STOP].
The
act of objects making copies of themselves - similar to biological
reproduction except that self-replicating objects should make exact copies of
themselves.
