What is meant by the term "degenerate code" in genetics?

The term "degenerate code" in genetics refers to the phenomenon where most amino acids are coded for by more than one codon. In the genetic code, there are 64 possible codons (combinations of three nucleotide bases), but only 20 amino acids that need to be represented. This redundancy allows multiple codons to specify the same amino acid. For example, the amino acid leucine can be encoded by six different codons (UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, CUG). This feature of the genetic code plays a crucial role in providing a buffer against mutations; changes in the DNA sequence might not always result in a different amino acid being produced, thereby minimizing potential harmful effects on the protein being synthesized.

Understanding this aspect of genetic coding is vital as it highlights the robustness of biological systems in the face of genetic variability. The other options do not accurately capture the concept of degeneracy in the genetic code and instead focus on different aspects of genetics, such as mutations or the presence of specific signals in the genetic sequence.