After the first bond is synthesized, the RNA polymerase must clear the promoter.  During this time, there is a tendency to release the RNA transcript and produce truncated transcripts.  This is called abortive initiation and is common for both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Abortive initiation continues to occur until the σ factor rearranges, resulting in the transcription elongation complex (which gives a 35 bp-moving footprint). The σ factor is released before 80 nucleotides of mRNA are synthesized. Once the transcript reaches approximately 23 nucleotides, it no longer slips and elongation can occur.