DNA Dating: Testing Romantic Chemistry Through Genetics
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - It's Valentine's Day weekend and love is in the air.
Chocolate kisses, pink roses and heart candy aside, the holiday is all about couples. But what really creates chemistry?
According to Toronto-based startup Instant Chemistry, it's not cupid's arrow that makes a perfect couple -- it's DNA.
Using a simple test kit, the company helps couples understand the science behind their attraction. All it takes is a bit of saliva and two test tubes.
CBS11 Consumer reporter Cristin Severance decided to test the science behind the company's claims.
Max and Donna Feuchter, married for 32 years and recently engaged Chelsea Fehringer and Brian Hudson agreed to take the test for CBS11.
Severance wanted to know why the Feuchter's felt they were meant for each other prior to taking the test.
"I have no idea. It just works," answered Max Feuchter.
Fehringer answered, "We knew fairly early that this was something special."
Each couple took a short personality test to determine their psychocompatibility, according to Instant Chemistry.
Then they took the DNA test, which was sent off to the Instant Chemistry Lab.
Their serotonin dopamine and oxytocin was tested, which is related to how a person reacts in an emotional situation and handles stress.
The DNA test even determines how physically attracted each partner is to the other by assessing a gene called HLA.
The test costs $149 per couple and it takes a week to receive the results.
Couples receive a compatibility score and a love manual that analyzes personality and DNA.
Max and Donna scored an 80 percent compatibility score.
"I guess that's why we been together so long," laughed Donna Feuchter.
Chelsea and Brian scored a 77 percent compatibility score.
"The wedding is still on," joked Hudson.
Each couple said some of the descriptions in the manual were spot on.
"It said my personality was good for a stressful job where I have to make decisions and can't second-guess," said Fehringer, a producer at CBS11.
However, the couples agreed the manuals weren't perfect.
"I don't think I experience high stress levels," said Feuchter.
Both pairs agreed it was a fun experience and would recommend it to couples or a singles as long as they didn't take the results too seriously.
The company said scores should never dictate a breakup. The purpose of the test is to understand the science behind a relationship.
Instant Chemistry plans to launch a dating site in the fall where love lost clients can dig deep inside, using their own DNA to score a date.
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