A process where something activates itself or triggers its own activation without external stimulation.
From 'auto-' (self) and 'activation' (the process of making active), a term common in biochemistry and molecular biology since the late 20th century.
In your cells, certain enzymes can autoactivate—meaning they can wake themselves up without waiting for a signal—which is like a smoke detector that sets itself off because it detects its own alarm sound.
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