Cyclin-dependent kinase

A cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) is like a little machine in the cells of our bodies that helps cells grow and divide.

Imagine that the cells in our body are like little factories, constantly making new things and dividing to make more factories. In order for the cells to divide properly, they need a lot of different parts, and the CDK is like a supervisor who helps make sure that all of the parts are in the right place and that everything is going smoothly.

The CDK works by attaching to a molecule called cyclin, which acts like a key to turn on the CDK machine. Once the CDK is turned on, it can start doing its job of telling the cell when it's time to grow and divide.

But just like any good supervisor, the CDK also knows when it's time to stop. When the cell has grown and divided enough, the CDK turns off and the cyclin key is taken away. This stops the cell from growing and dividing any further, so that our bodies don't grow out of control and become unhealthy.

So basically, the cyclin-dependent kinase is like a little machine that helps our cells grow and divide properly, making sure that everything is in the right place and stopping when it's time to take a break.