What is the term for a cross between two individuals that examines two traits?

The term for a cross between two individuals that examines two traits is a dihybrid cross. This type of genetic cross is used to study the inheritance of two different characters simultaneously. For example, if one trait is flower color and the other is plant height, a dihybrid cross would consider how these two traits assort independently when gametes are formed and subsequently combined in the offspring.

In a dihybrid cross, both parents are typically heterozygous for both traits, leading to a variety of offspring phenotypes according to Mendel's laws of inheritance. The classic dihybrid cross ratio observed in the offspring is 9:3:3:1, which reflects the independent assortment of alleles for the two traits being studied.

This method is fundamental in genetics as it helps in understanding how multiple traits are inherited together, providing insights into the complexity of genetic relationships and inheritance patterns.