Final answer:
The genetic code is degenerate when codons result in the same amino acid being added to a polypeptide. This redundancy protects against mutations and allows for variations in the genetic code.
Step-by-step explanation:
The codons that result in the same amino acid being added to a polypeptide indicate that the genetic code is degenerate. The genetic code is the sequence of nucleotides in a gene that determines the amino acid sequence in a protein. It is called degenerate because there are multiple codons that can code for the same amino acid. This redundancy helps to protect against the negative effects of mutations and allows for variations in the genetic code.