Dictionary

German measles immunization See MMR.

germinoma A rare cancer of the germ cells (the tissue that normally differentiates to become the eggs or sperm cells).

gestalt therapy An older psychotherapeutic concept that stresses understanding mental processes as holistic entities (gestalts) rather than as discrete steps. Gestalt therapy often uses group therapy techniques to help patients gain this type of insight. See also group therapy.

gestation The period of time from conception to birth.

gestational diabetes See diabetes, gestational.

GI tract See gastrointestinal tract.

giant cell arteritis See arteritis, cranial.

giant cell pneumonia See pneumonia, giant cell.

giant cell tumor of bone A tumor of bone characterized by massive destruction of the end (epiphysis) of a long bone. The site most commonly involved by this tumor is the knee, both the far end of the femur and the near end of the tibia. The term “giant cell” reflects the fact that microscopic…

giant platelet syndrome See Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

gene marker A detectable genetic trait or distinctive segment of DNA that serves as a landmark for a target gene. Markers are on the same chromosome as the target gene. They must be near enough to the target gene to be genetically linked to it and to be inherited, usually together with that gene, and…

gene product The RNA or protein that results from the expression of a gene. The amount of gene product is a measure of the degree of gene activity.