Which is not a way that cells adhere?

Cells adhere to one another and to their surrounding extracellular matrix through various mechanisms. Cell adhesion molecules, such as cadherins and integrins, play crucial roles in binding cells together and linking them to the extracellular matrix. Cell junctions, including tight junctions and gap junctions, provide structural connections between adjacent cells, enabling them to communicate and function as a cohesive unit. Substrate adhesion molecules facilitate the attachment of cells to different surfaces, which can be vital for maintaining cell shape and signaling.

Van der Waals forces, while they can influence interactions at a molecular level, do not constitute a specific or organized mechanism of cell adhesion. Rather, they are weak interatomic forces that arise from temporary dipoles induced in atoms or molecules, and they are not strategically involved in the substantial and regulated adhesion functions seen in cellular biology. Consequently, the presence of Van der Waals forces does not represent a structured means by which cells adhere, distinguishing it from the other options listed that are directly involved in adhesion processes.