Specific Transcription Factors -Eukaryotic transcription begins with the formation of a pre initiation complex formed by the amalgamation of a group of general transcription factors. Proteins that exert control over transcription at specific promoters are the specific transcription factors.

These proteins generally have two domains, a domain that recognizes a specific DNA sequence and a domain that recognizes another protein like the pre initiation complex.A majority of specific transcription factors act by recruiting the components of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme.

Thus, the binding of a specific transcription factor at a promoter is the first step in the formation of a pre-initiation complex at the promoter of a gene, e.g. dorsal wing development in drosophila.