What type of genetic cross involves plants that differ in two characters?

• A. One-factor cross
• B. Pairwise cross
• C. Two-factor cross
• D. Multi-factor cross

Answer: (C)

The correct choice is the two-factor cross. This type of genetic cross examines the inheritance patterns of two different traits simultaneously. It allows researchers to analyze how genes located on different chromosomes interact and how they are passed from one generation to the next.

For example, when studying a two-factor cross, one might observe traits such as flower color and plant height. By crossing plants that exhibit different traits for each of those characteristics, the segregation and combination of alleles can be studied in detail according to Mendel’s laws of inheritance.

This approach provides insights into how these traits may assort independently or show linkage, depending on the specific genes involved. Thus, the two-factor cross is specifically designed to analyze the inheritance of two different genetic characteristics together, making it significant in the study of genetics.