Hereditary factor somewhat degenerate (4)

I believe the answer is:

gene

'hereditary factor' is the definition.

'somewhat degenerate' is the wordplay.
'somewhat' indicates a hidden word.
'GENE' can be found hidden inside 'degenerate'.

(Other definitions for gene that I've seen before include "-- Pitney, singer" , "Embarrassment" , "Factor controlling heredity carried by chromosome" , "Basic unit of heredity" , "Biological factor determining heredity" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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