×Setup gel that doesn't spawn a baby when cut on the spot where the pressure plate is. But how? I know patterns that don't spawn one but I never manage to do it at the spot I want.

×The key here is parity.

If you cut while standing on a white tile, then you'll open up a white tile to cut from. So, if you want to eventually cut a white tile, you need to start cutting from white, and vice versa.

Notice that the target plate is a black tile. Notice also there is only one black tile to cut from in the initial shape.

× is the clone potion a red herring? I didn't need it, nor the token, to exit north and get the secret.

×Probably. You can certainly just step onto the trapdoor and then off again (onto the open green door) and then clear gel from the center.

Perhaps Chaco meant to include a force arrow at (1,23) or something.