What is the purpose of an egg cell in reproduction?

The egg cell's primary purpose in reproduction is to serve as a sex cell produced by a female. In sexual reproduction, egg cells, also known as ova, play a crucial role in the process of fertilization. When a sperm cell from a male fertilizes an egg cell, this leads to the formation of a zygote, which eventually develops into a new organism.

Egg cells are unique in that they carry half of the genetic material necessary for the offspring, contributing to genetic diversity through the recombination of parental genes. This reproductive strategy allows for the continuation of species while promoting variation, which is vital for adaptation and evolution.

The other options touch upon various functions relevant to cells or energy but do not accurately describe the egg cell's primary role in reproduction. Storing energy may be a feature of certain cells in a more general sense, but it is not the egg cell's defining purpose. Initiating cell division refers more to the process that occurs post-fertilization rather than the function of the egg cell itself. Acting as a genetic regulator does not specifically apply to egg cells, as their primary function is to provide genetic material rather than regulate genes in the developing embryo.