Dating and DNA: Can Love Be Determined by Your Genes?

Have you been searching for love for a long time without success? What if you could find the perfect partner based on your genes?

Finding a partner with compatible genetics is believed by some researchers to offer greater chances of long-term relationship success and healthier children. Rather than relying entirely on chance, some people are turning to a more scientific approach to dating by using DNA analysis to find a genetically compatible match.

Is Genetic Compatibility Decisive in Love?

Interest in personalized genetic testing has grown significantly in recent years. The field of genetic science has made major advancements with technology now more accessible and affordable than ever before. Through this progress, some researchers have begun exploring whether genetics can play a role in romantic compatibility.

The core idea is rooted in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a set of genes that plays a key role in the immune system. Research has suggested that people tend to be more attracted to partners with different MHC genes than their own. This genetic diversity may be advantageous because it can lead to offspring with a broader and more effective immune system.

What Genetic Compatibility Testing Looks At

Genetic compatibility testing in a dating context typically focuses on whether two people have a genetic disposition that brings out the best in their mutual attraction. Personality plays a role as well, since people with higher degrees of dissimilarity in certain genetic traits are often more attracted to each other.

The potential immunological benefit of genetic diversity is one factor researchers use to assess compatibility. Greater variety in immune-related genes in a couple may increase the likelihood that their children will have a robust immune response to a wider range of pathogens.

Can Scientific Precision Be Applied to Dating?

Applying scientific methods to dating is a fascinating and still-emerging concept. Some researchers are skeptical and point out that there is not yet extensive scientific evidence to confirm that love can be reliably determined through genetics alone. Despite that skepticism, DNA-based matching is beginning to take shape in the online dating world. Services such as DNA Romance use genetic data to identify potential matches based on compatibility indicators including HLA genes.

Whether or not genetics can determine your perfect match, understanding your own DNA gives you a deeper understanding of yourself, which can only help in building meaningful relationships.

Understand Yourself Better With Sequencing

While Sequencing's whole genome sequencing will not find you the love of your life, it will give you the most comprehensive picture of your genetics available. Understanding your genetic makeup, including your health predispositions, personality-related traits, and biological tendencies, can help you understand more about yourself and what you bring to a relationship.

Sequencing reads 100% of your DNA across over 30,000 genes. Through the Partner Marketplace, you can access a wide range of apps and reports covering health, wellness, ancestry, and more.

Order your whole genome sequencing kit today or upload your existing DNA data for free to get started.