Binding Agent
| Organelle Details | |
|---|---|
| Binding Agent |  |
| |
| Base Cost (MP) | 55 |
| Requires Nucleus | Yes |
| Processes | None |
| Enzymes | None |
| Size (Hexes) | 1 |
| Osmoregulation Cost | 1 |
| Storage | 1 |
| Unique | Yes |
| Upgrades | None |
| Internal Name | bindingAgent |
Allows a cell to join others of its species to form a cell colony. Once bound in a colony, cells move as one and share compounds. Cells must unbind from a colony before entering the editor and dividing.
Cell colonies are the first step towards multicellularity, so Binding Agents are vital for progressing to the next stage.
Requirements
A cell must have a Nucleus to evolve Binding Agents.
If organelle upgrades are enabled in game settings, both of the following conditions must also be true for the player cell:
- Contains a Nucleus for at least 5 generations.
- Has an ATP
balance of at least +15.
Processes
No processes.
Modifications
No modifications.
Effects
Cells with Binding Agents (or colonies containing cells with Binding Agents) may enter binding mode. While in binding mode, each cell consumes an extra +2 ATP . Binding mode deactivates on contact with a cell of the same species, joining the cells into a colony. Binding mode can also be deactivated manually.
Cells in a colony share resources, dividing them equally between all cells. Colonies also benefit from reduced osmoregulation cost – each cell's osmoregulation cost reduces at a rate inversely proportional to the total number of colony members.
Upgrades
No upgrades.
Strategy
The ability to form colonies is powerful, especially so for organisms using Photosynthesis. Every additional cell in a colony reduces overall osmoregulation cost, which means greater energy efficiency. Thus, photosynthetic species produce Glucose 
faster, and predatory colonies can survive longer between meals.
Catching up with allied cells to bind with can be difficult however, so it may be fruitful to use a Signaling Agent to call allies to your location.
Cells can't divide while in a colony, so you must unbind before entering the editor.
While a colony can grow indefinitely, you require only five cells to enter the next stage. Keep an eye out for the button to become multicellular above the editor button in the environment UI.
Scientific Background
TBA