PSYCHOLOGY
SPOT THE BIOLOGICAL
MISTAKES
Resources for Courses
Activity Overview
The aim of this activity is to help students become more confident when selecting and using
specialist (biological) terminology, and to understand how to link their biological knowledge
to the question.
Resources Required
Spot the Biological Mistakes Handout
Teacher Instructions
Part 1 – Spot the Biological Mistakes
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
M
PL
Provide the students with a copy of the Spot the Biological Mistakes Handout and ask them
to identify the ten mistakes and correct them on their handouts.
Extension: Atypical Sex Chromosomes
In the first activity, the answer focused on genes and hormones. However, the students can
also outline atypical sex chromosomes patterns to outline biological explanations of gender
development. Ask the students to use the space provided to explain how either Klinefelter’s
syndrome or Turner’s syndrome affect gender development.
SA
Exam Tip: Students often fail to focus on how these syndromes affect gender development
and merely focus on how they affect behaviour. Ask your students to highlight their answer
to demonstrate where they have referred explicitly to gender development.
© TUTOR2U AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY
www.tutor2u.net/psychology
PSYCHOLOGY
SPOT THE BIOLOGICAL
MISTAKES
Resources for Courses
Spot the Biological Mistakes
The passage below provides an outline (AO1) to the following question: Describe and
evaluate biological explanations of gender development (16 marks). However, there are ten
mistakes in the answer, can you identify all of the mistakes and correct them.
M
PL
E
Within the human body are 26 pairs of chromosomes and it is the 23rd pair that
determines our biological gender. The chromosomal structure differs between
men and women, for men the structure is XY and for women it is X. All egg cells
produced by a human ovary possess an X chromosome. Sperm carries either an
X or a Y chromosome. The sperm that successfully fertilises the egg will
determine the sex of the baby, so if the successful sperm carries a Y
chromosome then the baby will be a girl, and if it carries an X chromosome, it
will be a boy.
SA
Another essential biological influence on sex and gender is the nervous system.
Neurotransmitters are influential before a baby is born. Hormones are
responsible for the development of male and female reproductive organs and at
puberty are essential ingredients for the development of primary sexual
characteristics. Two key hormones in the development of sex and gender are
testosterone and oestrogen. From as early as 24 weeks old a foetus is producing
testosterone, the most well-known male hormone. Testosterone is often cited as
one of the contributory factors in aggression and is related to many stereotypical
male behaviours. Oxytocin is the female hormone responsible for the
development of female secondary sexual characteristics and the symptoms of
premenstrual tension.
Atypical Sex Chromosomes
When answering this question you can focus on many different factors, including genes and
hormones, like the answer above, or even atypical sex chromosomes. Use the space below to
explain how atypical sex chromosomes (e.g. XXY – Klinefelter’s syndrome; XO – Turner’s
syndrome) affect gender development.
© TUTOR2U AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY
www.tutor2u.net/psychology
PSYCHOLOGY
SPOT THE BIOLOGICAL
MISTAKES
Resources for Courses
Spot the Mistakes – The Answers
The passage below provides an outline (AO1) to the following question: Describe and
evaluate biological explanations of gender development (16 marks). However, there are ten
mistakes in the answer, can you identify all of the mistakes and correct them.
M
PL
E
Within the human body are 23 pairs of chromosomes and it is the 23rd pair that
determines our biological sex. The chromosomal structure differs between men
and women, for men the structure is XY and for women it is XX. All egg cells
produced by a human ovary possess an X chromosome. Sperm carries either an
X or a Y chromosome. The sperm that successfully fertilises the egg will
determine the sex of the baby, so if the successful sperm carries a Y
chromosome then the baby will be a boy, and if it carries an X chromosome, it
will be a girl.
SA
Another essential biological influence on sex and gender is the endocrine
system. Hormones are influential before a baby is born. Hormones are
responsible for the development of male and female reproductive organs and at
puberty are essential ingredients for the development of secondary sexual
characteristics. Two key hormones in the development of sex and gender are
testosterone and oestrogen. From as early as eight weeks old a foetus is
producing testosterone, the most well-known male hormone. Testosterone is
often cited as one of the contributory factors in aggression and is related to
many stereotypical male behaviours. Oestrogen is the female hormone
responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics and
the symptoms of premenstrual tension.
© TUTOR2U AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY
www.tutor2u.net/psychology