The method FRET ALEX is a more precise way to determine the number of interacting molecules and the orientation of the fluorophores. In this method, both donor and acceptor fluorescent molecules are excited and emission light is measured. The donor molecule is excited then the acceptor molecule is excited in an alternating pattern with lasers. The light is measured within a very small space - so small only one set of molecules can fit. They can tell if donor and acceptor are together or separate even though they may not be close enough for FRET alone or the fluorophores are facing away from each other. What result would lead to the conclusion that sigma subunit remained associated with the elongation complexes? The answer has to do with fluorescence. Solution While using this method the distance between the Sigma subunit and the protien complex molecule is measured using the Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) which utilises the distance-dependent interaction of two fluorophores to detect proximity or/and changes in the fluorophore interactions. It has been found that during the biochemical process of protien enlongation this distance does not change significantly thus providing evidence that the subunit remains associated with the elongation (Protien ) Complex..