Final answer:
Transcription factors are necessary but not sufficient for the initiation of transcription at a regulated gene. They bind to specific DNA recognition sequences and work in conjunction with other regulatory elements to initiate transcription.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transcription factors are proteins that are necessary for the initiation of transcription at a regulated gene. However, they are not sufficient for the initiation of transcription on their own. Transcription factors bind to specific DNA recognition sequences called cis-acting elements, which are located just upstream of the gene's promoter region. These cis-acting elements interact with other regulatory elements, such as enhancers, to facilitate the initiation of transcription.