Final answer:
Van der Waals attractions are weak interactions between molecules that play important roles in cell biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Van der Waals interactions are weak attractions or interactions between molecules caused by slightly positively charged or slightly negatively charged atoms.
These interactions are known to play important roles in cell biology. Although weaker than hydrogen bonds, van der Waals attractions contribute to the three-dimensional structure of proteins in cells, which is necessary for their proper function.