Before revision:  Results: After exhibiting such a positional switch in C. elegans, we mapped the microtubule ends at the cortex and observed a correlation between the proximity of the centrosomes and the density of microtubule contacts. To explore the functional consequences, we extended the tug-of-war model and successfully accounted for the positional switch. We predicted and experimentally validated that the control of oscillation onset was robust to changes in cell geometry or maximum number of attached force generators.
After revision:  Results: After exhibiting such a positional switch in C. elegans, we mapped the microtubule ends at the cortex and observed a correlation between the centrosome-cortex distance and the microtubule contact density. This density in turn modulates pulling force generator activity. We expanded our model of spindle rocking and predicted then experimentally validated that the control of oscillation onset was robust to changes in cell geometry or maximum number of attached force generators.