The Science
Research and Relationship Compatibility
DNA Romance compares selected DNA information through the DRom 1.0 algorithm. It assesses 100 The model compares selected genetic markers between profiles. These comparisons are one input and do not determine relationship outcomes.
DRom 1.0 and DNA Comparisons
DNA Romance also forecasts personality compatibility and helps people compare shared common interests via filters, and physical attraction based on photographs.
Personality Compatibility Rating
How Different Personality Types Interact in Relationships
Personality preferences are organized into 16 personality types types that describe different ways people communicate and make decisions., widely used today in organisational psychology.
DNA Romance uses these profiles to help members compare personality preferences.
Key Research Papers
Selected peer-reviewed studies underpinning the science behind DNA Romance.
MHC-Based Attraction (Chemistry) and Relationship Choice
DNA Romance developed DRom 1.0 after reviewing research on DNA variation, scent, and partner choice. The studies below show mixed and context-dependent findings.
Dandine-Roulland et al., 2019
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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
This study examined whether genetic differences were associated with partner choice across several populations. The findings varied by region, leaving social and cultural context as important factors.
Birnbaum et al., 2019
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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
Some studies have examined whether hormonal contraception is associated with changes in partner preference. Results remain mixed, and the research does not establish compatibility between two people.
Wedekind, 2019
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Wedekind C (2019)
Research on scent pleasantness, intensity, and genetic differences
Proc. R. Soc. B 285:20172714
This reanalysis explored how scent pleasantness and intensity related to genetic differences in the study sample. It described a more nuanced pattern than a direct link between genes and attraction.
Henningsson et al., 2017
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Henningsson S et al. (2017)
Research on genetic differences and partner choice
Translational Psychiatry 7:e1118
This review considered whether genetic variation was associated with partner choice across modern populations. It found no single pattern that can determine attraction or relationship outcomes.
Christakis & Fowler, 2014
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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
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Garver-Apgar CE, Gangestad SW, Thornhill R, Miller RD, Olp JJ (2006)
Psychological Science 17:830-835
One study reported associations between genetic similarity and survey responses about sexual interest and fidelity. An association in one sample does not predict how a relationship will develop.
Roberts et al., 2008
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Roberts SC, Gosling LM, Carter V, Petrie M (2008)
MHC-correlated odour preferences in humans and the use of oral contraceptives
Proc. R. Soc. B 275:2715-2722
This study explored whether oral contraceptive use was associated with scent preference. The reported effect remains debated and should not be treated as a measure of compatibility.
Wedekind & Furi, 1997
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Wedekind C, Furi S (1997)
Research on scent preferences and genetic diversity
Proc. R. Soc. B 264:1471-1479
Participants rated scent samples from genetically typed donors. The findings suggested that overall genetic diversity may matter more than any specific pair of markers, but the study did not predict relationship success.
Wu et al., 2018
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Wu K, Chen C, Moyzis RK, Nuno M, Yu Z and Greenberger E (2018)
Evolution and Human Behavior. 39(4):447-456.
In one speed-dating study, some genetic differences were associated with second-date decisions for women but not men. Personality and other profile information also mattered, so the findings do not provide a stand-alone matching rule.
Burger et al., 2017
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Burger D, Meuwly C, Marti E, Sieme H, Oberthür M, Janda J, Meinecke-Tillmann S and Wedekind C (2017)
Research on scent and mate preferences in horses
Theriogenology. 89:318-323.
This animal study examined genetic differences, hormone levels, and mating interest in horses. The patterns changed with reproductive phase and cannot be assumed to describe human partner choice.
Sherlock et al., 2016
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Sherlock JM, Sidari MJ, Harris EA, Barlow FK, Zietsch BP (2016)
Testing the mate-choice hypothesis of the female orgasm: disentangling traits and behaviours .
Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 6:31562.
This study explored whether partner traits were associated with reported orgasm frequency. It found associations with several social and sensory traits but did not establish a single cause.
Kromer et al., 2016
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Kromer J, Hummel T, Pietrowski D, Giani AS, Sauter J, Ehninger G, Schmidt AH, Croy I (2016)
Research on genetic differences, partnership, and sexual satisfaction
Sci Rep. 6:32550.
The study examined whether immune-gene differences were associated with partner choice and sexual satisfaction. It reported possible scent-related associations, not a deterministic relationship.
Wlodarski and Dunbar., 2015
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Wlodarski R. and Dunbar RIM. (2015)
Research on romantic kissing and mate desirability
Evol Psychol. ; 12(1): 178–199.
This study examined how reported kissing ability affected ratings of potential partners. Visual information and relationship context also influenced responses, which points to several factors rather than one measure of desirability.
Burger et al., 2015
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Burger D, Dolivo G, Marti E, Sieme H and Wedekind C (2015)
Research on genetic type and reproductive signals in horses
Proc. R. Soc. B 282:20150407
This animal study examined whether genetic differences were associated with hormone levels and sperm count in stallions. Its findings concern horses and do not establish a human matchmaking outcome.
Laurent and Chaix., 2012
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Laurent R and Chaix R (2012)
BioEssays. 34(4):267-71.
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Lie et al., 2010
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Lie HC, Simmons LH and Rhodes G (2010)
Research on genetic diversity and mate preferences in humans
Evolution and Human Behavior 31:8–58.
This study explores the influence of genetic factors, particularly the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), on mate preferences in humans, discovering that males tend to prefer MHC-dissimilar females in both short-term and long-term mating contexts, while genetic diversity impacts both male and female partner preferences across different mating contexts, thus supporting a significant role for the MHC in human mate selection and suggesting that these preferences might function to enhance genetic diversity in offspring.
Lie et al., 2010b
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Lie HC, Rhodes G and Simmons LH (2010)
Research on genetic diversity and mating success
Animal Behaviour. 79, 4:903-909
One study reported an association between genetic diversity and the number of sexual partners among women in its sample, with no comparable finding among men. It did not establish a causal effect or predict compatibility.
Chaix et al., 2008
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Chaix R, Cao C, and Donnelly P (2008)
Is human mate choice linked to genetic differences?
PLOS Genetics, 4 (9)
The study found different patterns across the populations it examined. That variation suggests genetic associations are context-dependent and cannot determine partner choice.
Schwensow et al., 2008
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Schwensow N, Fietz J, Dausmann K, Sommer S (2008)
Research on genetic diversity and mate choice in a pair-living primate
Evol Ecol. (22) 617-636
This primate study examined genetic diversity, social pairing, and parentage. It found several competing patterns, which cannot be carried over directly to human relationships.
Wedekind., 2007
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Wedekind C (2007)
Research on genetic differences and descriptions of body odour
Evolutionary Psychology.5(2): 330-343
Professional perfumers described body-odour samples from genetically typed participants. The study reported some associations, but it did not establish that scent can determine partner choice.
Wedekind., 2006
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Wedekind C (2006)
Is body-odour intensity linked to genetic differences?
Evolutionary Psychology. 4:85-94
This study examined whether genetic similarity was associated with how women rated the intensity and pleasantness of men's body odour. The results were limited to the study sample and do not predict attraction.
Pause et al., 2006
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Pause BM, Krauel K, Schrader C, Sojka B, Westphal E, Mu¨ller-Ruchholtz W, and Ferstl R. (2006)
Proc. R. Soc. B (2006) 273, 471–478 doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3342
This study explored whether people respond differently to body odours associated with genetic similarity. It proposed a possible role in social signalling but did not establish a matchmaking effect.
Martins et al., 2005
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Martins Y, Preti G, Crabtree CR, Runyan T, Vainius AA and Wysocki CJ (2005)
Research on body-odour preferences, gender, and sexual orientation
Psychological Science, 16(9) 694-702
Participants rated body-odour samples across gender and sexual-orientation groups. The observed preferences varied by group and do not amount to a compatibility measure.
Horton et al., 2004
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Horton R, Wilming L, Rand V, Lovering RC, Bruford EA, Khodiyar VK, Lush MJ, Povey S, Talbot CC Jr, Wright MW, Wain HM, Trowsdale J, Ziegler A, Beck S (2004)
Gene map of the extended human MHC.
Nat Rev Genet 5(12):889-899
This study mapped a complex region of the human genome involved in immune function. It provides biological background but does not establish a matchmaking outcome.
Jacob et al., 2002
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Jacob S, McClitock MK, Zelano B and Ober C (2002)
Research on inherited genetic differences and scent preference
Nature Genetics, 30:175
This study demonstrates that women can discern differences in male body odor influenced by a single variance in HLA (human MHC) allele, with a woman's capacity to distinguish and prefer certain odors notably being based on HLA alleles inherited from her father and not her mother; this suggests that paternally inherited HLA-associated odors influence odor preference and might function as social cues, even despite a milieu of potential odors derived from a variety of genetic and cultural factors..
Milinski and Wedekind., 2001
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Milinski M and Wedekind C (2001)
Research on genetic differences and perfume preference
Behavioural Ecology 12(2):140-149
The study found associations between genetic types and perfume ratings for personal use, while ratings for a partner's scent were largely unrelated. It does not support using perfume preference as a compatibility measure.
Wedekind et al., 1995
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Wedekind C, Seebeck T, Bettens F And Paepke AJ (1995)
MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans.
Proc.R.Soc.Lond.B. 260:245-249.
One study reported that body-odour preferences were associated with genetic differences and contraceptive use. The finding was context-specific and does not determine attraction.
How similarities or differences in MHC alleles can influence family planning
MHC similarity between couples has been studied in relation to family planning, here are some of the peer-reviewed papers describing MHC similarity and human reproduction.
Jokiniemi et al., 2020
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Jokiniemi A, Magris M, Ritari J, Kuusipalo L, Lundgren T, Partanen J and Kekäläinen J (2020)
Post-copulatory genetic matchmaking: HLA-dependent effects of cervical mucus on human sperm function
Proc. R. Soc. B 287:20201682
* found that sperm viability was associated with partners' HLA dissimilarity, indicating that cervical mucus may selectively facilitate later gamete fusion between immunogenetically compatible partners
Mosaad et al., 2011
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Mosaad YM, Abdel-Dayem Y, El-Deek BS and El-Sherbini SM (2011)
Association between HLA-E *0101 homozygosity and recurrent miscarriage in Egyptian women
Scand J Immunol. 2011 Aug;74(2):205-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2011.02559.x.
Mosaad et al. found an increased frequency of homozygosity for HLA-E*0101 in Egyptian women with recurrent miscarriage.
Mora-Sánchez et al., 2019
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Mora-Sánchez A, Aguilar-Salvador D, Nowak I (2019)
NPJ Digit Med Mar 7;2:12.
* proposed a genetic-risk calculation that could predict recurrent miscarriage (RM) based on analysing HLA haplotypes from couples either with histories of successful pregnancies or RM
Meuleman et al., 2015
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Meuleman T, Lashley LE, Dekkers OM, van Lith J, Claas FH and Bloemenkamp KW (2015)
HLA associations and HLA sharing in recurrent miscarriage: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Hum Immunol. May;76(5):362-73.
* performed a meta-analyses of 41 studies and showed that HLA-B sharing and HLA-DR sharing were both associated with the occurrence of RM
Shankarkumar et al., 2008
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Shankarkumar U, Pawar A, Gaonkar P, Parasannavar D, Salvi V, and Ghosh K (2008)
HLA allele associations in idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion patients from India
J Hum Reprod Sci. 2008 Jan;1(1):19-24.
* identified differential association of alleles in HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1 when compared with reported world RSA patients
Ober, 1999
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Ober C (1999)
Studies of HLA, fertility and mate choice in a human isolate
Hum Reprod Update 5(2):103-107.
* describe the relationship between HLA similarity at individual alleles, as well as HLA haplotypes as indicators for increased risk of fetal loss among Hutterite couples
Ober et al., 1998
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Ober C, Hyslop T, Elias S, Weitkamp LR, Hauck WW (1998)
Human leukocyte antigen matching and fetal loss: results of a 10 year prospective study
Human Reproduction, Volume 13, Issue 1, Jan 1998, Pages 33-38
* results of a 10 year study that demonstrated increased fetal loss rates among Hutterite couples matching for HLA antigens
Ober et al., 1993
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Ober., Steck., Ven., Billstrand., Messer., Kwak., Beaman., Beer (1993)
Journal of Reproductive Immunology, Volume 25, Issue 3, December 1993, Pages 195-207
* demonstrated increased rates of recurrent spontaneous abortion among Hutterite couples matching for HLA-DQA1 alleles
Personality Types
DNA Romance uses self-reported personality types as one input when comparing profiles. Similarity scores are a browsing aid, not a measure of relationship success.
Lok., 2012
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Lok C (2012)
How personality frameworks are used in career development
Nature, 488: 545-547
The article describes how self-assessed personality frameworks may help people reflect on communication, leadership, and teamwork. It does not establish relationship compatibility.
Keirsey., 2006
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Keirsey, D (2006)
A book about temperament and personality types
Promethius Nemesis Book Co., Del Mar, CA.
This book uses a self-assessed questionnaire to group people into personality and temperament types. It offers a vocabulary for reflection, not proof that two people are compatible.
Moutafi et al., 2003
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Moutafi J, Furnham A, and Crump J (2003)
Research on demographic, personality, and intelligence measures
European Journal of Personality, 17:79-94
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Myers et al., 1998
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Myers IB, McCaulley MH, Quenk NL and Hammer AL (1998)
MBTI manual: A guide to the development and use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator .
Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA, Vol. 3.
The MBTI® Manual, third edition, serves as a comprehensive guide, detailing the development, application, and interpretation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument, providing in-depth information about the theory, reliability, and validity of the tool, and offering insights into the 16 personality types it identifies, all authored by leading experts in psychological type, Isabel Briggs Myers, Mary H. McCaulley, Naomi L. Quenk, and Allen L. Hammer.
Myers et al., 1985
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Myers IB, McCaulley MH and Most R (1985)
Manual, a guide to the development and use of the Myers-Briggs type indicator.
Consulting Psychologists Press.
The 1985 edition, 'Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator,' introduces and elucidates the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), designed to render C. G. Jung's psychological type theory comprehensible and applicable in daily life, underlining the principle that behavioral variations, while seemingly sporadic, are consistently orderly, deriving from intrinsic differences in individuals’ preferred use of perception and judgment.
Myers., 1962
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Myers IB (1962)
Manual, a guide to the development and use of the Myers-Briggs type indicator.
Consulting Psychologists Press .
The 1962 manual for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator provides comprehensive insights and guidelines for implementing C. Jung’s theory of psychological types, asserting that behavioral variations are systematic and consistent due to basic perceptual and judgmental preferences, aiming to apply these preferences through self-reports to ascertain individual psychological types, thereby enabling the practical application and research into their effects on reactions, motivations, values, and capabilities.
Jung., 1923
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Jung CG (1923)
Psychological types: or the psychology of individuation
Oxford, England: Harcourt, Brace .
This book presents a theory that groups personality differences by preferences in perception and judgment. It is historical context, not proof of compatibility.
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