{
  "format": "preylab-gene-manifest",
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "modelVersion": 4,
  "verified": "2026-10-20",
  "families": {
    "flagellar-alga": {
      "label": "Flagellated algae",
      "biologicalFamily": "alga",
      "ecologicalRole": "producer",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "light + mineral",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "biomassDensity",
        "divisionTempo",
        "foodEnergy",
        "debrisMetabolism",
        "crossAffinity",
        "fusionCapacity",
        "matingType",
        "pigmentR",
        "pigmentG",
        "pigmentB",
        "storageInvestment",
        "reserveAllocation",
        "mobilization",
        "dormancy",
        "coatInvestment",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "photosyntheticInvestment",
        "nutrientUptake",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "adhesion",
        "photoGlowThreshold",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "biomassDensity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative mineral mass",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Mass packed into the body",
          "effect": "More mineral biomass for offspring, grazers and carrion",
          "cost": "More mineral needed for growth and extra upkeep above 1",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "foodEnergy": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative recovery",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Recoverable prey fuel fraction",
          "effect": "Sets the fraction of this cell’s actual usable and reserve energy a grazer can store after capture (45–100%)",
          "cost": "Higher recoverability raises upkeep; it does not create extra fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "debrisMetabolism": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pathway expression",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Suspended debris assimilation",
          "effect": "At 0.5 or above, uses finite local detritus for energy and suppresses photosynthetic gain",
          "cost": "Forfeits light conversion while active; the existing detritus conversion is unchanged",
          "circular": false
        },
        "crossAffinity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "contact compatibility",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Ability to exchange genes on contact",
          "effect": "Compatible mature algae can store a partner genome for a hybrid daughter at the next division",
          "cost": "Maintaining exchange machinery raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "fusionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "gamete investment",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Compatible fusion cycle",
          "effect": "At high expression, pays body material and energy to release viable algae gametes",
          "cost": "Finite gametes spend parent material and energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "matingType": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "compatibility type",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Fusion compatibility",
          "effect": "Gametes of the same algae group but opposite type can fuse",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "pigmentR": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": -1,
          "unit": "red channel",
          "category": "appearance",
          "role": "Inherited pigment red",
          "effect": "Crossed algae can inherit a mixed body color",
          "cost": "Visual trait only",
          "circular": false
        },
        "pigmentG": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": -1,
          "unit": "green channel",
          "category": "appearance",
          "role": "Inherited pigment green",
          "effect": "Crossed algae can inherit a mixed body color",
          "cost": "Visual trait only",
          "circular": false
        },
        "pigmentB": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": -1,
          "unit": "blue channel",
          "category": "appearance",
          "role": "Inherited pigment blue",
          "effect": "Crossed algae can inherit a mixed body color",
          "cost": "Visual trait only",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storageInvestment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "reserve capacity",
          "category": "survival",
          "role": "Chemical storage tissue",
          "effect": "Adds up to 80 energy units of capacity; storage tissue needs extra structural mineral",
          "cost": "Raises body mass target and maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "reserveAllocation": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "surplus allocation",
          "category": "survival",
          "role": "Photosynthate diverted into reserves",
          "effect": "Stores a fraction of energy gained after upkeep, at 80% efficiency",
          "cost": "Less immediately usable energy for growth and division",
          "circular": false
        },
        "mobilization": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release rate",
          "category": "survival",
          "role": "Reserve mobilization",
          "effect": "Releases stored energy below 35 usable energy, at 85% efficiency",
          "cost": "Reserve energy is lost during conversion",
          "circular": false
        },
        "dormancy": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cyst tendency",
          "category": "survival",
          "role": "Reversible cyst formation",
          "effect": "At high expression, prolonged local scarcity can trigger a costly dormant state",
          "cost": "Entry and germination spend energy; dormant cells still pay maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "coatInvestment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "covering investment",
          "category": "defense",
          "role": "Constructed mineral covering",
          "effect": "A built coat increases predator handling time on contact",
          "cost": "Construction consumes dissolved mineral and energy; upkeep rises",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.35,
          "unit": "active thrust",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Swimming thrust",
          "effect": "Horizontal and vertical acceleration",
          "cost": "Active swimming spends energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "photosyntheticInvestment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "light capacity",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Light conversion capacity",
          "effect": "Upper bound on photosynthetic gain",
          "cost": "Higher maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "nutrientUptake": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "medium uptake",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Nutrient uptake capacity",
          "effect": "Upper bound on local nutrient-supported gain",
          "cost": "Higher maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "adhesion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "surface investment",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Compatible cell adhesion",
          "effect": "Forms weak short-range bonds with other adhesive algae",
          "cost": "Maintaining the coating raises energy use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "photoGlowThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.18,
          "unit": "fraction of ambient light",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Ambient-light glow switch",
          "effect": "When ambient sensing is expressed, algae emit only at or below this local lamp level; higher values permit glow in brighter water",
          "cost": "Ambient receptor and light organ retain their existing upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "ciliate-grazer": {
      "label": "Glassmouth ciliate",
      "biologicalFamily": "ciliate",
      "ecologicalRole": "grazer",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living algae",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "herbivorous-flagellate": {
      "label": "Greater herbivorous flagellate",
      "biologicalFamily": "flagellate",
      "ecologicalRole": "grazer",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living algae",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "raptorial-ciliate": {
      "label": "Raptorial ciliate",
      "biologicalFamily": "ciliate",
      "ecologicalRole": "predator",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living grazers + omnivores",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "apex-ciliate": {
      "label": "Apex hunter",
      "biologicalFamily": "ciliate",
      "ecologicalRole": "predator",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living raptors + omnivores + amoebas",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand",
        "cannibalism"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "cannibalism": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "prey recognition",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Same-family prey recognition",
          "effect": "At 0.55 or above, permits hunting smaller members of the same hunter family",
          "cost": "Adds sensory upkeep when expressed",
          "circular": false
        }
      }
    },
    "omnivorous-ciliate": {
      "label": "Mosaicmouth omnivore",
      "biologicalFamily": "ciliate",
      "ecologicalRole": "mixed feeder",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living algae + swimming herbivores",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "openwater-hunter": {
      "label": "Widejaw hunter",
      "biologicalFamily": "ciliate",
      "ecologicalRole": "predator",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living herbivores and hunters",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand",
        "cannibalism"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "cannibalism": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "prey recognition",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Same-family prey recognition",
          "effect": "At 0.55 or above, permits hunting smaller members of the same hunter family",
          "cost": "Adds sensory upkeep when expressed",
          "circular": false
        }
      }
    },
    "floor-ciliate-hunter": {
      "label": "Amoeba hunter",
      "biologicalFamily": "fictional floor hunter",
      "ecologicalRole": "predator",
      "habitat": "floor-associated",
      "metabolismStatus": "supported",
      "resource": "living floor amoebas",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "divisionTempo",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "flocking",
        "sensingRange",
        "feedingAperture",
        "processing",
        "storage",
        "acquisitionCapacity",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "divisionTempo": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.8,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Growth and division pace",
          "effect": "Changes biomass growth rate and minimum division age",
          "cost": "Faster division raises upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "ciliary thrust",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Swimming force",
          "effect": "Faster approach and escape",
          "cost": "Raises active swimming use",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "flocking": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "neighbor response",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "3D schooling tendency",
          "effect": "Blends alignment, cohesion and close-range separation with resource seeking",
          "cost": "Neighbor sensing raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensingRange": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative range",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local prey detection",
          "effect": "Extends bounded physical perception",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "feedingAperture": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.3,
          "unit": "relative mouth",
          "category": "feeding",
          "role": "Prey size limit",
          "effect": "Admits larger individual prey",
          "cost": "Raises mouth maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "processing": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.5,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative rate",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food processing speed",
          "effect": "Digests stored meals faster",
          "cost": "Raises processing cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "storage": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.6,
          "max": 1.6,
          "default": 1.2,
          "unit": "relative vacuole",
          "category": "digestion",
          "role": "Food capacity",
          "effect": "Holds more prey material",
          "cost": "Raises maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "acquisitionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "fragment retention",
          "category": "experimental reproduction",
          "role": "Optional food DNA retention",
          "effect": "Can retain one compatible donor locus after ingestion for later descendant integration when enabled",
          "cost": "Retention spends usable energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "amoeboid-prototype": {
      "label": "Amoeboid crawler",
      "biologicalFamily": "amoeboid",
      "ecologicalRole": "scavenger",
      "habitat": "floor-associated",
      "metabolismStatus": "experimental",
      "resource": "carrion + detritus",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "sporeInvestment",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.35,
          "unit": "active thrust",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Swimming thrust",
          "effect": "Horizontal and vertical acceleration",
          "cost": "Active swimming spends energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sporeInvestment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "propagule investment",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Asexual spore production",
          "effect": "A mature decomposer may release finite spores from body reserves",
          "cost": "Each viable spore spends body material and energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "surface-glider-prototype": {
      "label": "Surface glider · development seed",
      "biologicalFamily": "fictional glider",
      "ecologicalRole": "producer",
      "habitat": "floor-associated",
      "metabolismStatus": "experimental",
      "resource": "light + mineral",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "propulsion",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "turnPersistence",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "sporeInvestment",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "propulsion": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.35,
          "unit": "active thrust",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Swimming thrust",
          "effect": "Horizontal and vertical acceleration",
          "cost": "Active swimming spends energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "turnPersistence": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "heading memory",
          "category": "locomotion / depth",
          "role": "Heading persistence",
          "effect": "How slowly steering changes direction",
          "cost": "No direct extra energy cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sporeInvestment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "propagule investment",
          "category": "reproduction",
          "role": "Asexual spore production",
          "effect": "A mature decomposer may release finite spores from body reserves",
          "cost": "Each viable spore spends body material and energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "passive-drifter-prototype": {
      "label": "Passive drifter · development seed",
      "biologicalFamily": "fictional drifter",
      "ecologicalRole": "producer",
      "habitat": "open water",
      "metabolismStatus": "experimental",
      "resource": "light + mineral",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "buoyancy",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "buoyancy": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "vertical bias",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Passive settling or rising",
          "effect": "Changes current-driven vertical drift",
          "cost": "No active swim energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    },
    "contractile-prototype": {
      "label": "Attached contractile cell · development seed",
      "biologicalFamily": "fictional contractile cell",
      "ecologicalRole": "producer",
      "habitat": "anchored",
      "metabolismStatus": "experimental",
      "resource": "light + mineral",
      "reproduction": "binary fission",
      "geneOrder": [
        "bodySize",
        "metabolicPace",
        "slowdownThreshold",
        "contractility",
        "thermalOptimum",
        "rhythmPhase",
        "rhythmStrength",
        "twilightPreference",
        "entrainment",
        "ambientSense",
        "lightPreference",
        "lightTolerance",
        "directionalSense",
        "spectralCenter",
        "spectralWidth",
        "chemicalSense",
        "organicProduction",
        "organicReception",
        "organicResponse",
        "alarmProduction",
        "alarmReception",
        "alarmResponse",
        "socialProduction",
        "socialReception",
        "socialResponse",
        "lightProgram",
        "organicProgram",
        "alarmProgram",
        "socialProgram",
        "releaseThreshold",
        "releaseGain",
        "releasePulse",
        "releaseCooldown",
        "releaseReserve",
        "toxinSynthesis",
        "toxinRelease",
        "irritantResistance",
        "motorResistance",
        "sensoryResistance",
        "detoxification",
        "disturbanceSense",
        "emissionCapacity",
        "emissionPower",
        "emissionBand"
      ],
      "genes": {
        "bodySize": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.7,
          "max": 1.5,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative radius",
          "category": "body",
          "role": "Target mature body size",
          "effect": "Radius and structural biomass target",
          "cost": "Larger bodies pay more maintenance",
          "circular": false
        },
        "metabolicPace": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.8,
          "max": 1.2,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative pace",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Inherited metabolic pace",
          "effect": "Scales upkeep and resource processing",
          "cost": "Higher pace spends more energy even when food is scarce",
          "circular": false
        },
        "slowdownThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 10,
          "max": 70,
          "default": 35,
          "unit": "energy / 100",
          "category": "locomotion / energy",
          "role": "Fuel slowdown ceiling",
          "effect": "Active swimming tapers logarithmically below this energy level and reaches zero at empty fuel",
          "cost": "Active movement cost falls with effort; basal upkeep remains",
          "circular": false
        },
        "contractility": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.6,
          "unit": "stalk effort",
          "category": "locomotion",
          "role": "Contraction capacity",
          "effect": "Sets contraction speed and cost",
          "cost": "Active contraction spends energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "thermalOptimum": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 5,
          "max": 40,
          "default": 22,
          "unit": "°C",
          "category": "metabolism",
          "role": "Temperature preference",
          "effect": "Sets the peak of the temperature response",
          "cost": "Mismatch reduces usable gain",
          "circular": false
        },
        "rhythmPhase": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "cycle turn",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Preferred internal phase",
          "effect": "Rotates the inherited activity waveform",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": true
        },
        "rhythmStrength": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "activity bias",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Daily rhythm strength",
          "effect": "Modulates effort and rest without stopping upkeep",
          "cost": "Rest saves motion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "twilightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "two-window tendency",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Dawn and dusk preference",
          "effect": "At high values gives two activity peaks per cycle",
          "cost": "No direct cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "entrainment": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "local lamp response",
          "category": "activity",
          "role": "Clock adjustment from sensed light",
          "effect": "Slowly nudges internal phase from local dawn and dusk",
          "cost": "Included in ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "ambientSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Ambient lamp sensing",
          "effect": "Measures local brightness and change",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightPreference": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "0–100 irradiance target",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Preferred local lamp level",
          "effect": "Steers toward a bounded bright, dim or intermediate habitat when ambient sensing is expressed",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightTolerance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "response width",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Lamp habitat tolerance",
          "effect": "Sets suitability half-width from 8 to 50 irradiance units; 1 is neutral and keeps legacy steering",
          "cost": "No extra cost beyond ambient sensing",
          "circular": false
        },
        "directionalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Biological light direction",
          "effect": "Gives a coarse local signal bearing",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "spectralCenter": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector color preference",
          "effect": "Weights local biological signals by spectral match",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": true
        },
        "spectralWidth": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0.1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "relative bandwidth",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Detector bandwidth",
          "effect": "Broad receptors receive more bands with less discrimination",
          "cost": "Included in detector upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "chemicalSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "mineral receptor investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Dissolved nutrient sensing",
          "effect": "Improves local mineral gradients; compound reception is inherited separately",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Organic volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Organic volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Alarm volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Alarm volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProduction": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory capacity",
          "category": "chemistry",
          "role": "Social volatile production",
          "effect": "Permits finite material and energy paid release when an existing physiological trigger occurs",
          "cost": "Body material, upkeep and actual secretion cost",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialReception": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "receptor capacity",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile reception",
          "effect": "Samples this compound locally with overlapping affinity to other registered compounds",
          "cost": "Body material and receptor upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialResponse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": -1,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "signed steering",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Social volatile response",
          "effect": "Negative avoids a measured increase; positive approaches; zero detects without steering",
          "cost": "Response effort uses existing locomotion energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "lightProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Biological light trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "organicProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Organic secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "alarmProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Alarm secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "socialProgram": {
          "type": "integer",
          "choices": [
            "off",
            "periodic",
            "low light",
            "disturbance",
            "readiness",
            "local receptor",
            "sustained surplus",
            "sustained low light",
            "disturbance or receptor"
          ],
          "min": 0,
          "max": 8,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "program",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Social secretion trigger",
          "effect": "Chooses the local or internal input that can start this output; zero disables it",
          "cost": "Regulatory upkeep; output still spends finite resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseThreshold": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.25,
          "unit": "input fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Release activation threshold",
          "effect": "Minimum local or internal input needed to start a pulse",
          "cost": "Higher thresholds conserve resources",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseGain": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 1,
          "unit": "output fraction",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Requested output fraction",
          "effect": "Scales requested light power or chemical secretion below apparatus capacity; zero requests none",
          "cost": "Higher output spends more material or fuel",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releasePulse": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.5,
          "unit": "duration setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Pulse duration",
          "effect": "Maps to 0.6–3.8 simulated seconds",
          "cost": "Long pulses can spend more fuel or material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseCooldown": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0.55,
          "unit": "recovery setting",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Refractory recovery",
          "effect": "Maps to 1–8 simulated seconds after a pulse",
          "cost": "Long recovery limits repeated release",
          "circular": false
        },
        "releaseReserve": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "default": 5,
          "unit": "energy units",
          "category": "release regulation",
          "role": "Protected energy reserve",
          "effect": "Active release stops at this remaining usable energy",
          "cost": "Conserves usable energy by suppressing signals",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinSynthesis": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "secretory investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Finite toxin synthesis",
          "effect": "Transfers body mineral into a small stored compound budget",
          "cost": "Body mineral, energy and apparatus upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "toxinRelease": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "release propensity",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Triggered toxin release",
          "effect": "Permits paid local release after threat or prey contact",
          "cost": "Finite stored compound and cooldown",
          "circular": false
        },
        "irritantResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Irritant resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces irritant uptake, including self exposure",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "motorResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Motor toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces motor compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "sensoryResistance": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "specific resistance",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Sensory toxin resistance",
          "effect": "Reduces sensory compound uptake",
          "cost": "Structural and maintenance investment",
          "circular": false
        },
        "detoxification": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "clearance investment",
          "category": "chemical defense",
          "role": "Toxin clearance",
          "effect": "Speeds internal dose clearance",
          "cost": "Structural and processing energy",
          "circular": false
        },
        "disturbanceSense": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "motion investment",
          "category": "sensing",
          "role": "Local motion and contact response",
          "effect": "Responds to bounded nearby movement or contact",
          "cost": "Sensor upkeep and body material",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionCapacity": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "light organ",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse capacity",
          "effect": "Allows short energy-paid biological light pulses",
          "cost": "Body material and upkeep",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionPower": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "pulse effort",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Pulse brightness",
          "effect": "Sets emitted intensity and energy expense",
          "cost": "Usable energy per pulse",
          "circular": false
        },
        "emissionBand": {
          "type": "number",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 1,
          "default": 0,
          "unit": "spectrum turn",
          "category": "emission",
          "role": "Emitted color band",
          "effect": "Sets pulse spectrum",
          "cost": "Included in emission cost",
          "circular": true
        }
      }
    }
  }
}