Ovarian Cancer Glossary
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Gene – A piece of DNA passed from parent to child. Genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
Genetic Testing – The process of looking at cells or tissue to look for changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins that may be a sign of a disease or condition, such as cancer. These changes may also be a sign that a person has an increased risk of developing a specific disease or condition.
Genetics – Having to do with genes. Most genes are sequences of DNA that contain information. The information in genes is passed down from patent to child, and sometimes, certain changes in genes can affect a person’s risk of disease, such as cancer.
Genomic Testing – The process of looking at the complete set of DNA (including all of its genes) in a person or other organism. Studying your complete set of DNA may help researchers understand how genes interact with each other and with the environment and how certain diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, form.
Germ cells – Ova or spermatozoa cells or their developmental precursors
Gynecologic oncologist – A doctor of obstetrics and gynecology who specializes in women’s reproductive cancers