Welcome to Webcytology's main interactive feature. The Simulation allows you to create your own species of unicellular life and then place it in a virtual world where it can interact with the environment and other people's organisms. As you create your species, you will learn not only which types of species have particular organelles but also that all of them are important in maintaining the balance necessary for life.
Note: Many features of the Simulation require a JavaScript compatible browser.
To use the Simulation, you will first have to create an account on Webcytology. Your account will allow us to keep track of the species which you create and send you email updates of your cells' progress. The only required information is a handle of your choice and a password.
After you've created an account, you'll be able to create your own species. (Of course, you have to login to your account first.) Once your species is created and placed in a world, you can check up on its progress by logging in.
Before you create a new species, we encourage you to look at Chapter Seven in the Guide to get a full description of each type of cell. In addition, you should browse through the Cell Database to see why other people created their species the way that they did.
Webcytology's Simulation runs four times daily. Each of these "turns" of the Simulation represents 20 minutes of activity in the Simulation worlds.
Cells in the Simulation worlds are subject to several environmental factors: oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, glucose, salt, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Depending upon which type of cell you create and which organelles you choose to include, your species will have different requirements, production and consumption rates, and tolerance levels for the various factors. In addition, cells in the world undergo reproductive processes at certain rates depending upon how successful they have been in obtaining nutrients and other life requirements. All cells can move around the world in the quest for nutrients, although cells with cilia or flagella can move faster.
Keep all of these factors (and others) in mind as you create your cell. If you choose too many organelles, your cell will not be able to obtain enough energy to maintain them all. Similarly, if you do not include certain organelles, your species may perform certain processes less efficiently, possibly resulting in death. [an error occurred while processing this directive]