Final answer:
Contact inhibition is the type of regulation where cells stop dividing when they come in contact with each other or the walls of their container. The bordering cells fill the empty space by dividing. This process prevents the cell density from becoming too high.
Step-by-step explanation:
This type of regulation is called contact inhibition. When cells in a petri dish come in contact with each other or with the walls of the dish, they stop dividing. The cells bordering the open space in the dish begin dividing until they have filled the empty space. This process helps to maintain a balance and prevent the density of cells from becoming too high.