Crossword Genius

Detect medium strength chromosome (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

espy

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'detect' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'medium strength chromosome' is the wordplay.
'medium strength' becomes 'esp' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'chromosome' becomes 'Y' (Y chromosome is an example).
'esp'+'y'='ESPY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for espy that I've seen before include "Perceive" , "Spot, notice" , "Catch sight of (poetic)" , "Make out at a distance" , "See" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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