What happens to the genetic code as the number of codons increases?

When the number of codons increases, one significant effect is that most amino acids are indeed coded by multiple codons. This phenomenon is known as redundancy or degeneracy of the genetic code. Each amino acid can be represented by more than one codon due to the way nucleotide bases pair up to form triplets. For instance, the amino acid leucine is coded by six different codons. This redundancy allows for a buffer against mutations; for example, a mutation in a single nucleotide in a codon may not lead to a change in the amino acid produced, thus providing a level of protection against detrimental effects that can arise from genetic mutations.

While it is true that an increase in codon numbers may lead to greater complexity of the genetic code, the primary and notable outcome is that it results in multiple codons specifying the same amino acids, which enhances the robustness of genetic expression. The other options do not accurately address the implications of an increased codon count in relation to the redundancy effect seen in the genetic code, where the efficiency and versatility of protein synthesis are maintained despite a rise in codons.