In real science, these are real words, and they have a couple of different, but related, meanings. They can refer to a DNA element that acts on another DNA element within the same DNA molecule (cis-acting) or on a different DNA molecule (trans acting). Or they can refer to whether two side groups of a molecule are on the same side (cis) or on opposite sides (trans) of the molecule's core.
Who cares? They bare no relationship to English literature or language as ordinary people converse or read or write. Academics and feminists and their running dogs have used obscure scientific terms to twist and obscure reality and the beauty of the English language. I will continue to use the language of Shakespeare - no matter how ungainly - to attempt to put across my ideas. Cis be damned!