Replication occurs when the latter reproduce the former.
The most discussed one in the physical sciences is the hurricane. Theoretically, self-sustaining situations can be seen as a variety of reiterated induction such as that found in mathematical induction. Anyone working with computer simulation of social processes will be familiar with self-sustaining situations though without giving them a special name. Such meme- situation coentities I suggest are theoretically important as they provide the primary units by which individual actions and beliefs give rise to emergent social phenomena. This mutuality leads to the equilibrium behaviour studied by traditional economists.