Proliferáció

Proliferáció is a term used in various scientific fields to describe the rapid increase in numbers or reproduction of cells, organisms, or entities. In biology, it specifically refers to cell division, where one cell divides into two or more daughter cells. This process is fundamental to growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms. Uncontrolled proliferation of cells, however, can lead to the formation of tumors and is a hallmark of cancer.

In ecology, proliferation can describe the rapid growth of populations of organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or insects, often triggered by favorable environmental conditions like abundant resources or lack of predators. This can sometimes result in an overpopulation or bloom that can have significant impacts on the ecosystem.

The concept of proliferation also extends to fields like nuclear physics and computer science. In nuclear physics, it refers to the process by which neutrons cause further nuclear fissions in a fissile material, leading to a chain reaction. In computer science, it can describe the rapid creation and spread of copies of data or software, sometimes associated with viruses or malware. Across these diverse contexts, proliferation fundamentally signifies an exponential or rapid increase in quantity.