Genes part 1
Knowledge Organiser 1/3
There is a lot of variation between types of
dog, but dogs are technically all the same
species. Different members of the same
species of fish are much harder to tell apart.
In humans variation is obvious, we are all
human beings but have different colour hair,
eyes, skin; and different shaped noses, faces,
etc.
Genetic variation is caused by our parents,
we inherit our genes from them. This is why
we might look like our mom or our dad.
Things like eye colour and skin colour are
inherited this way.
Environmental variation is caused by
decision we make or by environmental
factors. For example, the clothes we wear, or
our hair style are examples of environmental
variation.
Keyword Definition
Variation Differences in characteristics
Discontinuous Variation within categories, eg, male and female
Continuous Variation within a continuous scale, eg, height
Adaptations Characteristics which enable an organism to be
successful and survive
Discontinuous variation falls into categories,
things like blood type or shoe size are
discontinuous. They are normally plotted into bar
charts or bar graphs as this makes the information
easy to read and follow.
Continuous variation does not fall into categories,
height is an example of continuous data. This can
be plotted on a histogram. The line which has been
drawn over the lines of the
histogram is called a bell curve, this
represents the normal distribution.
You can see that most of the
population are average height, with
some very tall and some very small.
Genes part 1
Knowledge Organiser 2/3

Puberty affects every young person as it involves

drastic physical and emotional changes in the
body. During puberty everybody: develops pubic
hair, can experience body odour, grow taller, and
Male Reproductive System Female Reproductive System
experience emotional changes. Males experience:
voice breaking/deepening, testicles and penis Testicles are contained in the Ovaries contain the egg cells
grow, start producing sperm, shoulders widening,
and facial and chest hair. Females experience: Glands produce nutrients to Uterus, also known as the womb,
breast growth, ovaries begin releasing eggs, keep sperm alive, the mixture is where the baby will develop for
periods start, and hips widen.
Urethra is the tube that carries Oviducts carry the egg to the uter-

Penis becomes erect when Cervix is the ring of muscle which

aroused and is used in sexual holds the baby in place when

The vagina receives sperm during

Gametes are the name given to sex cells. The male gamete is
sperm, and the female gamete is an egg.
Genes part 1 The menstrual cycle, also known as periods, is
something girls have to get used to through puberty.
Knowledge Organiser 3/3 Boys do not menstruate. Menstruation happens because
the Uterus wall builds up ready to accept an embryo, if
After fertilisation (when a sperm and egg cell come fertilisation does not occur, the uterus sheds its wall and
together to form an embryo) a baby starts to it comes out of the vagina. The menstrual cycle is approx.
develop. The gestation period for human beings is 28 days long, but this can vary from woman to woman.
9 months, but some animals have shorter or longer Day 1—period starts
gestations. The fetus develops in the uterus. The
Day 5—Period / bleeding stops
uterus is very well adapted to house the fetus. The
placenta is an organ where substances can pass Day 14—ovulation, an egg from the ovary is released
from the mother to the baby. It also acts as a
barrier to protect the baby. The umbilical cord
connects the fetus to the placenta. The amniotic
fluid acts as a
shock absorber,
protecting the
baby from and
potentially
dangerous
knocks.
Genes part 1 Keyword Definition

Knowledge Organiser 1/3 Variation

Discontinuous
Describe the differences between genetic
Continuous
variation and environmental variation and
Adaptations
give examples of each

What is discontinuous variation & give examples

What is continuous variation & give examples

Genes part 1
Knowledge Organiser 2/3

What is puberty?

What happens to males during puberty? Male Reproductive System Female Reproductive System
Testicles Ovaries

What happens to females during puberty?

Glands Uterus, also known as the womb,

Urethra Oviducts

Penis Cervix

The vagina

____________ are the name given to sex cells. The male gamete is
sperm, and the female gamete is an egg.
Genes part 1 What is the purpose of menstruation?

Knowledge Organiser 3/3

What is fertilisation?

What is a gestation period and how long is it in Summarise the menstrual cycle
humans?

What is the function of the amniotic fluid, and

placenta, and the umbilical cord