Which type of bonds join amino acids together?

Amino acids are joined together by covalent bonds, specifically peptide bonds, which form during a dehydration synthesis reaction. When two amino acids come together, the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another, resulting in the release of water and the formation of a covalent bond. This bond is crucial in creating the primary structure of proteins.

While hydrogen bonds, thio bonds, and ionic bonds play various roles in the stabilization and interaction of proteins, it is the covalent bonds that directly link amino acids in a chain. Understanding the nature of peptide bonds is fundamental in genetics and molecular biology, as the sequence and structure of amino acids ultimately influence protein functionality.