What type of genetic cross focuses on one specific trait?

A monohybrid cross is specifically designed to examine the inheritance of a single trait. This type of genetic cross involves individuals that are both homozygous for different versions (alleles) of that trait. For instance, if studying flower color, one plant might have the allele for purple flowers, while the other might have the allele for white flowers. The offspring produced from this cross will have varied combinations of those genetic alleles, and this allows for a clear understanding of how one specific trait is passed on from one generation to the next.

In contrast, a dihybrid cross investigates two different traits simultaneously, analyzing the inheritance patterns of two distinct characteristics. A test cross typically involves crossing an individual of unknown genotype with a homozygous recessive individual to determine the unknown genotype's composition, which is broader than focusing on a single trait. A back cross, on the other hand, is used to determine the genetic makeup of an individual by breeding it with one of its parents or an individual with a known genotype, again not limited to a single trait. The specificity of the monohybrid cross makes it an essential concept in genetics to understand how traits segregate and assort independently.