ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Biological membrane

Think of your body as a big city, and your cells as tiny little houses. Just like houses have walls and doors to keep things in and out, cells have something called a biological membrane that surrounds them. The membrane is like a super strong fence that only lets certain things through, just like how some fences keep dogs in but let birds fly over.

The membrane is made up of different parts, including lipids and proteins, that work together to keep the cell safe and healthy. The lipids are a bit like oil, and they stick together to form a sort of "skin" around the cell. The proteins are like little gates that control what can come in and out, and they also help the cell communicate with other cells.

One of the most important things the membrane does is keep everything in the cell where it needs to be. Just like you have a backpack to carry your stuff around, cells have tiny packages called organelles that hold all sorts of important things, like food and waste. The membrane makes sure that these things don't leak out or get mixed up with other parts of the cell.

Another really cool thing about the membrane is that it can change shape and move around. This means that the cell can make new parts of the membrane where it needs them, or even break down parts that are no longer useful. It's like how you can take apart a Lego castle and use the pieces to build something new.

So, the biological membrane is like a tough, flexible fence that surrounds our cells and helps keep them safe and healthy. It's made up of different parts that work together to control what comes in and out of the cell, and it can even change shape depending on the cell's needs!
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