Maryssa Griffin
Inquiry 101
Professor Marsh
October 7, 2020
Inquiry Final Essay Reflection
Being a forensic science major, it was fairly easy for me to choose a research topic
because I have a lot of science background to choose from. Ultimately, I chose small pattern
gene inheritance which led to my topic being Hydrocephalus and the impact small pattern gene
inheritance has on it.
Through inquiry, research, and scholarly sources I have learned so much about
Hydrocephalus. I learned that gene inheritance can skip generations and still transmit the
disorder. I have become a strong believer of Hydrocephalus and helping children get the surgery
they need when they are younger. This is to try and fix the issue and stop more issues from
forming due to water on the brain. By learning more about Hydrocephalus, it has greatly
increased my desire to be in the science field where I am because science is so fascinating. The
way things work in science is so intricate and everyone is different in their own ways which
makes life so beautiful. “Due to the complexity of organization and function of the human brain,
a large proportion (estimates are >50%) of the 40000 or so genes in the human genome are
expected to be involved in the formation and function of the brain [20].” (qtd in Dirks 1). This
quote goes to show exactly why I am so fascinated by science and by the body itself. They say,
“you are what you love” and for me this is true. I love science and I will be a scientist one day
soon. I chose forensic science as my major because I love forensic science, and this is why I
chose gene patterns for my research topic.
Through being a first-year student at Liberty University, I have been introduced to an
abundance of opportunities when it comes to research. The Jerry Farwell Library here at liberty
University was a great research opportunity for me to further my knowledge on Hydrocephalus
and small pattern gene inheritance. In order for me to master small pattern gene inheritance I had
to use my inquiry process of search for sources, evaluating them, and making sure that they are
scholarly and reliable to make sure my information was accurate. I think that the inquiry process
is an important part of any paper in order to have reliable sources and accurate information.
Small pattern gene inheritance is a topic that I am very interested in. I think this can be used
throughout my career here at Liberty to keep me interested in other projects and assignments by
trying to relate them to small pattern gene inheritance. “The diversity of pathological conditions
that cause hydrocephalus in neonates has rendered a precise characterization of the disease
inherently difficult.” (qtd in Landingham et al 213). As shown in this quote, there is still so much
left to research about Hydrocephalus to be able to fully understand this disorder.
Through inquiry, I have learned how to correctly discover information to allow me to
introduce my research into scholarly conversations to make me more knowledgeable on the
subject. During my undergraduate career here at Liberty, I will continue to research small pattern
gene inheritance whenever I can by incorporating it into my assignments whenever I can. I hope
to be working with genetics when I graduate by working with a police department of some sort
doing crime scene investigation and working in the lab with DNA evidence. After completing my
undergraduate here at Liberty, I know that small pattern gene inheritance is valuable to society
because as stated in Risk Factors of congenital hydrocephalus: A 10-year retrospective study,
“The early diagnosis and treatment of CH is critical to the outcome of the patient.” (qtd in
Landingham et al 261). This research is helpful to parents who may have a child who is
diagnosed with Hydrocephalus at birth. I have learned that in order to discuss your research in an
accountable way, I need to state where I found my information. For this issue, there are many
opportunities for scholarship to pursue like internships with the police department helping with
old evidence. My interest in small pattern gene inheritance embraces the idea of stewardship
because it’s something that I am taking action on. In order to be fully prepared to engage this
topic I used the inquiry process to find where to start.
By using the inquiry process I was able to discover how small pattern gene inheritance
impacts Hydrocephalus.
