Cryptic crossword clue
Handed down item old medics wrapped in shiny stuff 10

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word CHROMOSOME

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
C
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Handed down item" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case handed down item = chromosome.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does CHROMOSOME mean?

CHROMOSOME noun
  1. A linear arrangement of condensed DNA and associated proteins (such as chaperone proteins) which contains the genetic material (genome) of an organism.

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