The conjecture that the degree of an APN mapping is less than the dimension

Let $m$ be the dimension parameter for the mapping, and let $\deg(F)$ denote the algebraic degree of an APN mapping $F$.

Degree bound conjecture. The degree of an APN mapping is less than $m$.

The statement is presented as supporting evidence for a widely accepted conjecture, but the supplied excerpt does not specify the precise domain, codomain, or quantifiers for $m$. Its mathematical status cannot therefore be determined from the provided context.