A diagram depicting the different theory and simulation types and cases solved theoretically.

In each panel, kymographs of three typical filaments are shown. Panels (a)-(c) depict the three types of simulations where all the filaments have random velocities and random lengths. Panel (a) shows type 1 where the filaments have random velocities which are constant for the duration of the simulation. Panel (b) shows type 2 simulations where the filaments have random velocities which instantaneously change at random times. Finally, (c) shows type 3 simulations where filaments have random velocities and exhibit a pausing behavior between velocity changes. Panel (d) shows the particular situation/case of Type 1 simulations theoretically solved in Eq (4) where all filaments have the same fixed velocity but random (time-independent) lengths. Panel (e) the particular situation/case of type 1 simulations theoretically resolved in Eq (5) where all the filaments have the same length but different (time-independent) velocities that are randomly selected.