ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Biological engineering

Biological engineering is like building with living things. Scientists use tools to change the way cells work, grow and interact with each other. It's like changing the Lego blocks to make new things. You can imagine different creatures in a lab, like small bugs, but they are not real. These are tiny cells that scientists use to create useful things, like medicine or food.

So, scientists take these tiny cells, and they can change the way they act by adding or removing some of their parts. For instance, they can take a cell that normally makes insulin, and they can make it produce more insulin than it normally would. This is like adding a bigger engine to your toy car to make it go faster!

Scientists can also change the structure of a cell and design it to do something different. For example, they can change a cell to produce a new protein that can be used to make a vaccine. It's like your Legos have been changed to become a spaceship instead of a car.

Biological engineering is important because it helps us make new things and improve old ones. It helps us live healthier lives by creating new medicines, and it also helps us get more food by making crops grow better. It's like having a secret laboratory where scientists make the best things for us to use and enjoy!