Final answer:
The primary structure of a protein is the linear sequence of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, which is crucial for the protein's function and higher-level structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the linear sequence of amino acids joined together through peptide bonds, which determines the basic structure of the protein, is known as the primary structure of the protein. In this structure, each amino acid is connected to another by a covalent bond known as a peptide bond.
The primary structure is crucial because it dictates the higher levels of protein structure, including secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures, all of which are critical for the protein's function. The sequence is encoded in genes and consists of 20 standard amino acids that form polypeptides and proteins through condensation reactions during protein synthesis.