Biological Knowledge of Children:
An Autonomous Domain? Conceptions of the Digestive System
Keywords:
Conceptual development, Biological concepts, Specific domain, TheoriesAbstract
This article discusses ideas about the genesis of biological knowledge as a specific domain of knowledge. It is
based on data from conducted investigation with 45 children, aged from 4 to 10, into the structure and the function of the
human digestive system. The results indicated that at the age of 4, the explanatory structure of the phenomena of digestion in
which the digestive phenomena is embedded constitutes an autonomous domain of knowledge despite it does not represent a
physiological explanation since the biological functions are not considered. It was concluded that: (1) from the age at 4, the
biological knowledge is an autonomous domain; (2) the acquisition of the concept of digestion leads to a conceptual rupture
and enrichment; (3) the concept of transformation can constitute an obstacle to comprehension of the scientific model of the
digestive system functions. It is suggested that, to create good teaching strategies, the transformation of food by digestive
system, especially chemical transformations have to be focused on.
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