Forget scouring through the personal ads or rummaging through your photo files to find a flattering picture to post online. These days the answer to true love may be just a cheek swab away.
A new kind of match-making service that uses DNA profiling to pair people with their perfect partners is taking the romantic world by storm.
And scientists say it may be the way forward when it comes not only to choosing the ideal mate, but having the perfect children.
Research has shown that DNA affects our relationships and that we subconsciously seek out partners with 'compatibility genes'. So it makes sense that selecting potential suitors with DNA that perfectly compliments ours is more likely to lead to lasting love.
On top of that, explains Eric Holzle, a former engineer who runs the DNA dating site ScientificMatch, we are more likely to produce healthier children.
‘Nature’s driving force is to ensure that you produce the healthiest possible offspring, so what DNA matching offers is the chance to pick a partner with the widest possible variety of genes and therefore the best immune system for any potential children,’ Mr Holzle says.
The service is being offered online by a number of companies, including ScientificMatch and the Swiss company, GenePartner.com. Both were inspired by the infamous 1995 ‘sweaty T-shirt’ experiment in which women were asked to sniff the T-shirts of similarly aged men and rate their body odours as proof that DNA matching works.
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‘In the sweaty T-shirt experiment it was found that women preferred the scent of men who had immune systems dissimilar to their own and vice versa,’ explains Dr Tamara Brown of GenePartner.
‘And from that, research has ascertained that the more variety there is between your genetic make-up and that of your partner, then the greater chance there is of compatibility.’
All you have to do to find your DNA mate is buy a special testing kit from one of the sites. You then use this to take a saliva swab from the inside of your cheek and send the sample back for analysis.
Two weeks later, you are presented with a list of perfect genetic matches to choose from. GenePartner's testing kit costs £162 but similar sites are offering them for under £30.
The GenePartner project was inspired by a study carried out by Prof Dr. Wedekind at the University of Bern, Switzerland, in which he asked women to smell the T-shirts of various men and rate them for attractiveness
A detailed explanation of why DNA match profiling works is given on the companies website. It states: 'High diversity in specific immune system components ensures greater resistance against a variety of diseases
'Our bodies automatically sense how diverse the immune systems of people around us are, and we subconsciously classify them depending on how genetically compatible they are to our own.
'With genetically highly compatible people we feel that rare sensation of perfect chemistry. This is the body’s receptive and welcoming response when immune systems harmonise and fit together.'
The site claims that genetic compatibility results in 'an increased likelihood of forming an enduring and successful relationship, a more satisfying sex life and higher fertility rates.' A definite plus when it comes to online dating, which can often mean having to endure dozens of one-off dates before finding someone worth getting to know better.
Speaking about the new trend, Lynette Berry, Director of Cherrypick Introductions Ltd said: 'I am not a doctor and have no medical or scientific qualifications at all. However, my personal and professional experience is that “chemistry” does indeed matter.
'Many potential matches for my clients appear almost perfect on paper and after I interview them in person. But when they do meet, there is no spark.
'There is some truth in our sense of smell and pheromones playing a part in our attraction and repulsion towards another person. I read somewhere that a lot is revealed when you actually kiss someone, so maybe it is down to a mixture of taste and smell? It certainly worked when my husband first kissed me!'
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And on the subject of DNA compatible partners having healthier offspring, Ms Berry adds: 'I’m sure our ancient ancestors would never have survived if they had not used these natural instincts, or ‘natural selection’ for want of a better phrase. If a man and a woman are going to breed successfully, a wider spread of genes and immunity to disease and deformity would obviously be better for the child’s survival.'
While she doesn't completely dismiss GenePartner’s claims and believes such genetic 'engineering' could be hugely significant for people who have a family history of illness or disability, Ms Berry acknowledges that it might not be viewed as ethical by some.
'I will let others judge but personally I can see the merit in it.,' she says.
'Overall I prefer to let nature take its course. I rely on my personal touch, enabling and encouraging my clients to keep an open mind and to get out and meet as many people as possible. Sometimes it only takes one coffee-date. But sometimes you need to kiss a few more frogs to find your Prince.'
The Downlow on DNA Dating
Could DNA profiling help you find love?
Attraction based DNA was first studied in 1995 by Claus Wedekind. The study is referred to as the 'Sweaty T-Shirt Experiment' and the female participants involved were given t-shirts worn by men for several days. None of the men were allowed to wear any scent that would mask their natural odour.
The women were then asked to rate how 'sexy' they thought the t-shirts smelled and the findings revealed a link between how good the shirts smelled to them and how dissimilar their immune DNA was to that of the man in question.
Nowadays, scientists believe that what we refer to as 'chemistry' when we meet someone new is actually the body's natural response to two immune systems connecting and recognising that they fit well together because they are genetically dissimilar.
The reason we look for this dissimilarity is not only because we are more likely to have a longer-lasting relationship with such a match, but because a wider spread of genes means greater immunity to disease so consequently, healthier children.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2424271/The-29-DNA-dating-test-takes-swab-saliva-finds-perfect-match.html#ixzz2fG2OzAGO
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