Content to pass Emile thalidomide — it's fairly harmful to genes (10)

I believe the answer is:

semilethal

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'fairly harmful to genes' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'content to pass emile thalidomide' is the wordplay.
'content to' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'SEMILETHAL' is hidden within 'pass emile thalidomide'.

'it's' acts as a link.

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