Researchers consolidated a modular view of eukaryotic transcription in which core promoter elements and DNA-binding transcription factors collaborate to initiate transcription. Core promoter features such as initiator motifs and GC-rich regions were linked to specific regulatory proteins, shaping models of promoter recognition. Methodologically, the period emphasized biochemical purification, cloning of DNA-binding domains, and the emergence of inducible expression systems to study transcription in living cells.