Editing Molecular assembler (section)

==Gray goo==
{{Main|Gray goo}}

One potential scenario that has been envisioned is out-of-control self-replicating molecular assemblers in the form of [[gray goo]] which consumes carbon to continue its replication. If unchecked, such mechanical replication could potentially consume whole [[ecoregion]]s or the whole Earth ([[ecophagy]]), or it could simply outcompete natural lifeforms for necessary resources such as [[carbon]], [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]], or [[UV]] light (which some [[nanomotor]] examples run on). However, the [[ecophagy]] and 'grey goo' scenarios, like synthetic molecular assemblers, are based upon still-hypothetical technologies that have not yet been demonstrated experimentally.