What kind of inheritance pattern would be utilized in a dihybrid cross?

In a dihybrid cross, the primary focus is on tracking two traits simultaneously. This involves examining how two different genes independently assort and combine in offspring, allowing for the exploration of the interactions between these traits.

When performing a dihybrid cross, such as with pea plants where one gene might determine seed shape (round vs. wrinkled) and another gene might determine seed color (yellow vs. green), both traits are analyzed to predict the possible genetic outcomes among the offspring. This type of genetic cross illustrates Mendel’s principle of independent assortment, showcasing how alleles segregate during gamete formation.

The essence of a dihybrid cross is to observe the phenotypic ratios resulting from the combination of two traits, thus making tracking two traits the correct approach in this context. Other options do not align with the focus of a dihybrid cross; tracking one trait pertains to a monohybrid cross, while studying genetic mutations and analyzing environmental effects involve different areas of genetic study.