Welcome to the Petri Dish Simulator!

Concept: This simulation models how organisms (like bacteria or yeast) colonize a surface (agar) in a petri dish. Growth starts from initial points you place and spreads outwards, forming colonies. Density naturally increases in the center and limits further growth there, pushing expansion outwards.

How to Use:

1. Toggle Controls: Use the "Show/Hide Controls" button at the bottom-left to access simulation parameters.
2. View Controls (3D Area):
   • Mouse: Left-Click+Drag = Tilt/Orbit, Right-Click+Drag = Pan, Scroll Wheel = Zoom.
   • Touch: One finger = Tilt/Orbit, Two fingers pinch = Zoom, Two fingers drag = Pan.
3. Seed Organisms: Click or tap on the beige agar surface inside the dish to place the initial "founder" organisms (blue spheres). You need at least one to start. (Do this when controls are hidden for full view).
4. Adjust Parameters (in Controls Panel):
   • Growth Rate: Base chance for an organism to reproduce each step.
   • Max Population: The carrying capacity of the dish.
   • Sim Speed: How many simulation steps occur per second.
   • Spread Distance: How far a *new* organism can appear from its parent. Smaller values create tighter colonies.
   • Density Effect: How much local crowding reduces the growth rate. Higher values lead to more defined colony edges.
5. Run: Press 'Start' in the controls panel. New organisms (green spheres) will appear.
6. Control: Use 'Pause', 'Reset', and 'Instructions' buttons in the controls panel.

Got it!