Final answer:
DNA and histone proteins are key to the inheritance of chromatin structure, which is tightly regulated and passed from parent cells to daughter cells during cell division, ensuring the faithful transmission of genetic and epigenetic information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key molecules responsible for the inheritance of chromatin structure during cell reproduction are DNA and histone proteins. During cell division, chromatin is maximally condensed into chromosomes, ensuring that each daughter cell receives the accurate genetic information. Chromosomes, which house the genes and carry hereditary traits, consist of DNA wrapped around histone proteins, forming nucleosomes, which further coil into fibers and eventually into the chromosomes visible during mitosis and meiosis. These chromatin structures in conjunction with the specific modifications on histones and DNA, account for epigenetic inheritance patterns that regulate gene expression and are passed from one cell generation to the next.