- sequential chain reaction where each step triggers the next, amplifying the initial signal
- enzymatic cascades: blood clotting cascade amplifies a small injury signal into a full clot
- signaling cascades: MAPK/ERK pathway transmits growth signals from cell surface to nucleus
- trophic cascades: removal of a top predator restructures an entire ecosystem
- failure cascades: one component failure overloads neighbors, causing systemic collapse (power grids, financial systems)
- information cascades: individuals follow predecessors’ choices, amplifying trends or errors
- CSS cascade: rules inherit and override in a defined priority order
- each step typically involves amplification: one molecule activates many, one failure triggers several