The Science Behind Relationship Compatibility
DNA Romance predicts "chemistry" online using the DRom 1.0 algorithm. It assesses 100 specific markers within your DNA - focused on genes proven to be involved in attraction and reproduction. Studies have shown that people with varied DNA markers in the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) tend to find each other's scent appealing and often enjoy more durable romantic relationships.
DRom 1.0 - Predicting Chemistry
DNA Romance also forecasts personality compatibility using Myers-Briggs personality types, lets users evaluate shared common interests via filters, and physical attraction based on photographs.
Our second algorithm, DRom 2.0, uses an AI model trained with relevant DNA markers to predict phenotypic traits with high accuracy - complementing the profile-verification mechanism that checks user authenticity.
Personality Compatibility Rating
How Different Personality Types Interact in Relationships
Our personality compatibility rating draws on the Jung / Myers-Briggs 16 personality types a psychometric framework with over a century of development. Carl Jung's 1921 work was refined by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine Briggs into the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, widely used today in organisational psychology.
DNA Romance applies this framework to predict potential connections between singles and couples - assigning higher compatibility scores to similar personality types, lower scores to those that tend to conflict.
Key Research Papers
Selected peer-reviewed studies underpinning the science behind DNA Romance.
Dandine-Roulland et al., 2019
Dandine-Roulland C, Laurent R, Dall'Ara I, Toupance B and Chaix R (2019)
Genomic evidence for MHC disassortative mating in humans
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Couples in Northern Europe tend to exhibit MHC dissimilarity, suggesting biological influence on mate choice. Cultural and social factors elsewhere may obscure the biologically-driven pattern.
Birnbaum et al., 2019
Birnbaum GE, Zholtack K, Mizrahi M & Ein-Dor T (2019)
The Bitter Pill: Cessation of Oral Contraceptives Enhances the Appeal of Alternative Mates
Evolutionary Psychological Science 5, 276–285
Hormonal contraceptives shift mate preferences. Stopping use reverts those preferences and enhances attraction to genetically compatible men, especially during high-fertility phases.
Wedekind, 2019
Wedekind C (2019)
Proc. R. Soc. B 285:20172714
Re-analysis of MHC-and-odour data showing odour pleasantness and intensity interact with MHC dissimilarity to influence social signalling - a more nuanced relationship between MHC, scent perception, and communication than earlier studies suggested.
Henningsson et al., 2017
Henningsson S et al. (2017)
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and sexual mate selection
Translational Psychiatry 7:e1118
Systematic look at MHC and sexual selection in humans, evaluating the relationship between HLA genotype and partner choice across modern populations.
Christakis & Fowler, 2014
Christakis NA, Fowler JH (2014)
Friendship and natural selection
PNAS 111(suppl 3): 10796–10801
Friends share genetic similarity comparable to that of fourth cousins. Suggests social bonds form along subtle biological gradients, not only shared environment - relevant to how romantic compatibility extends beyond MHC.
Garver-Apgar et al., 2006
Garver-Apgar CE, Gangestad SW, Thornhill R, Miller RD, Olp JJ (2006)
Psychological Science 17:830-835
Couples with greater MHC similarity reported reduced sexual responsivity and higher rates of infidelity - direct behavioural correlate of MHC compatibility within established relationships.
Roberts et al., 2006
Roberts SC, Gosling LM, Carter V, Petrie M (2006)
MHC-correlated odour preferences in humans and the use of oral contraceptives
Proc. R. Soc. B 275:2715-2722
Women's MHC-correlated odour preferences invert when on hormonal contraceptives - they shift toward MHC-similar partners rather than MHC-dissimilar ones.
Wedekind & Furi, 1997
Wedekind C, Furi S (1997)
Proc. R. Soc. B 264:1471-1479
Follow-up to the classic t-shirt study. Men and women evaluated odour samples from MHC-typed donors; preferences fell on MHC-dissimilar partners more often than chance - but the underlying signal favours heterozygosity rather than specific allele combinations.
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