What term refers to a cross of two individuals that differ in two traits?

The term that refers to a cross of two individuals differing in two traits is a dihybrid cross. This type of genetic cross is used to examine the inheritance patterns of two distinct traits simultaneously, allowing for the observation of how those traits segregate and assort independently according to Mendel’s laws.

In a dihybrid cross, both parents are heterozygous for the two traits being studied, leading to the possibility of producing offspring with varying combinations of those traits. This approach contrasts with a monohybrid cross, which focuses on a single trait, and a test cross, which is conducted to determine the genotype of an organism exhibiting a dominant phenotype. Furthermore, a polygenic cross involves traits governed by multiple genes, further differentiating it from the specific focus of a dihybrid cross on just two traits. The concept of a dihybrid cross enhances understanding of genetic variation and the principles of inheritance.