ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Protein primary structure

So, have you ever played with building blocks or Legos? Each block is like a letter in a big word. Just like how words are made up of letters, proteins are made up of smaller pieces called amino acids.

The order of these amino acids is super important because it's what determines the shape and function of the protein. It's like how if you change the letters in a word, it can change the meaning completely.

The order of the amino acids is called the protein's primary structure. It's kind of like a big long necklace made up of different beads.

Scientists can determine the primary structure of a protein by using special techniques to figure out the order of the amino acids. This can help them understand how the protein works and even create new proteins that could be useful for things like medicine or food.