autocatalysis

[aw-toh-kuh-tal-uh-sis]

noun

Chemistry, Biochemistry.

plural

autocatalyses 

1. catalysis caused by a catalytic agent formed during a reaction.

autocatalysis

/ ˌɔːtəʊkəˈtælɪsɪs /

noun

1. the catalysis of a reaction in which the catalyst is one of the products of the reaction

Other Word Forms

• autocatalytic adjective
• autocatalytically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of autocatalysis¹

First recorded in 1890–95; auto- ¹ + catalysis

Example Sentences

Comproportionation reactions result in multiple copies of some of the molecules involved, providing materials for the next steps in autocatalysis.

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But according to Pohorille, the potential for aggregation doesn’t automatically mean Dill is wrong about needing those hydrophobic patches to get autocatalysis started.

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The other main reason for autocatalysis is that new technologies and materials make it possible to generate still other new technologies by recombination.

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He demonstrated the processes of synthesis and autocatalysis that enabled such small samples to be multiplied indefinitely.

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Since RNA would have been better at autocatalysis, it would have been favored by natural selection in the long run.

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