ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cell engineering

Okay kiddo, cell engineering is like building a toy with Legos. Just like how we can put different pieces of Legos together to make different things, scientists can change the pieces inside cells to make them do what they want.

Cells are very tiny things inside our bodies that help us do different things like breathe, move, and even think. Scientists who study cell engineering can take these tiny things and change them in different ways to make them stronger, faster, or even more helpful to us.

For example, let's say a scientist wants to make sure that a cell can survive in a harsh environment. They might add a piece to the cell that allows it to better protect itself from that harsh environment. Or, if they want a cell to give us a certain protein that we need, they might change the cell's pieces so that it can produce that protein.

Just like how we can make a different toy each time we play with Legos, scientists can create different cells by engineering them in different ways. This helps them learn more about how cells work, and could even lead to new treatments or cures for different diseases.