Fig. 12. The time course of aggregation in a 1D fragment. (A) Phase contrast images of a 1D fragment (the width is much smaller than the typical MT length). (B) Line scans of intensity through the midline of the fragment. (C) Simulation results from the 1D model with an inhomogeneous MT array (see Movie 2, http://jcs.biologists.org/supplemental/). The top row shows the initial state of the pigment distribution (roughly uniform). During the aggregation process, local aggregates form, as seen in the second row. Finally, a single tight aggregate forms as the system approaches steady state.