Why is the genetic code defined as being degenerate?

Question

a) some codes are stop or nonsense codons

b) some codes mutate after several generations

c) the codes are the same for all organisms

d) there is more than one triplet code for most amino acids

Answer 1

A number of codons can code for the SAME amino acid, ie. UCU, UCA, UCG, UCC all code for serine, hence there are much, MUCH more codons then their are proteinogenic amino acids. Hence the genetic code is said to be degenerate. Degenerate means "decline" and in this case we are referring to a decline in specificity.

So the answer is "D"

Answer 2

The correct answer is d.