The regulation of the initiation of transcription by transcription factors is often assumed to be dependent on specific recognition of DNA-binding sites and nonredundant. However, the redundant induction or rescue of a phenotype by transcription factors, phenotypic nonspecificity, challenges these assumptions. To assess the frequency of phenotypic nonspecificity in the rescue of transcription factor phenotypes, seven transcription factor phenotypes (labial, Deformed, Sex combs reduced, Ultrabithorax, fruitless, doublesex, and apterous) were screened for rescue by the expression of 12, or more, nonresident transcription factors.
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