The Boy or Girl? cabinet currently holds a fake penis to be worn under clothing as a “packer” to provide a male appearance, as well as a compression vest to flatten the chest.  Testosterone patches worn to include bodily changes are also displayed.  

In its current form, the under-review display includes an information panel which states that “sex usually refers to someone’s biological characteristics”, whereas “gender is more difficult to define”.

The panel continues: “Your gender identity is our sense of yourself as male or female, or, for some people neither or both. It may not match your biological sex.”

Plans to make changes to the display following complaints about a limited mention for transgender issues, as noted in internal emails, has been criticised by campaigners.

‘Sexual reproduction has not changed’

Maya Forstater, executive director of campaign group Sex Matters and winner of a prominent employment tribunal relating to her “gender-critical” views, said:  “The Science Museum should reflect biology.”

She added: “Sexual reproduction evolved over one billion years ago and it has not changed in recent years.  

“It is the reproductive strategy of all higher animals and plants, including humans. 

“Helping visitors of all ages to understand this is core to what the Science Museum should be doing.”

“It is concerning that a place dedicated to science is being swayed by cultural trends in this way.”

Boy or Girl? had previously been altered to remove a sign which stated “your X and Y chromosomes define your biological sex” following complaints in 2016.

The Science Museum has confirmed that work is currently under way to review the display in its Who Am I? gallery, but no physical alterations have yet been made.

The museum has said that the gallery is updated “on a rolling basis, where resources allow, to reflect areas where there has been fresh research or a shift in scientific consensus”.