When describing the forces on cells, which statement is correct?

The statement regarding electrostatic forces in cells is accurate because cells generally carry a net negative charge on their surfaces due to the presence of various types of negatively charged molecules, such as sialic acid in glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans. This characteristic leads to repulsion between similarly charged cells, as like charges repel each other according to electrostatic principles.

This repulsion is significant for understanding how cells interact within tissues and play a role in maintaining tissue structure and function. In many biological systems, the balance of electrostatic, hydrophilic, and other intermolecular forces greatly contributes to cellular organization and communication.

Other forces acting on cells, such as steric stabilization, can also affect cellular interactions but do not typically involve osmotic imbalances as described in the alternative choice.