Final answer:
The correct answer is E. heterozygous, two. A dihybrid cross involves the mating of two individuals that are heterozygous for two genes, which can be demonstrated using a Punnett square.
Step-by-step explanation:
A dihybrid cross is a mating between two individuals that are each heterozygous for two genes. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is E. heterozygous, two. In a dihybrid cross, individuals have two different alleles for each of two genes. These alleles are located on their homologous chromosomes. For instance, the genotype of a dihybrid organism might be AaBb, where A and A represent the different alleles for one gene, and B and b represent the different alleles for the second gene.
The process of hybridization involves mating two individuals with the goal of achieving a certain characteristic in their offspring. When the cross is between parents that are both heterozygous, like AaBb × AaBb, the outcome reflects a combination of both dominant and recessive alleles. This can be represented using a Punnett square, which shows all possible combinations of alleles that can occur in the offspring.