THE ROANOKE TIMES -- July 22 -- For $1,995.95, a company called ScientificMatch.com uses DNA to find soul mates. Studies suggest that people are more likely to feel "chemistry" when they have genetically dissimilar immune systems. For about $1,000 and up, services such as 23andMe, Navigenics, Genelex, deCODE Genetics and others will scan DNA for gene markers linked to heart disease, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, certain cancers and more. Other tests claim to identify nutritional deficiencies and then provide diet advice.
The full article was originally published at The Roanoke Times, but is no longer available.
When you take a healthy objective and critical look at these claims of "chemistry" related to DNA matching, one quickly realizes that there's nothing substantive there to back them up. In fact, some companies have no grasp of the very research they tout to justify their methods.
However, my team has volunteered pro bono to conduct a real-world test of at least one company's claims. The double-blind experiment would then be submitted for academic publication. It's disappointing, but not that surprising, that this particular company desperately avoided this offer.
Interested reporters are encouraged to contact me for full details.
As an industry insider and respected compatibility researcher, my professional opinion is that consumers should stay away from DNA dating (and save money on these costly services) until real-world validation studies on their services prove they actually predict relationship quality.
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
OnlineDatingMagazine.com
Posted by: James Houran | Jul 22, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Mr. Houran:
Perhaps you need to notify all the online services to check their data base's for Mr. Holzles name. I've seen him on 3 major online dating services.
Posted by: Susie | Jul 25, 2008 at 09:58 AM