diff --git a/scispacy/hyponym_detector.py b/scispacy/hyponym_detector.py
index d0fc27d..faf5afa 100644
--- a/scispacy/hyponym_detector.py
+++ b/scispacy/hyponym_detector.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         self.nlp = nlp
 
-        self.patterns = BASE_PATTERNS
+        self.patterns = list(BASE_PATTERNS)
         if extended:
             self.patterns.extend(EXTENDED_PATTERNS)