Geeks don’t seem to have much luck in the romance department. Pop-culture stereotypes emphasize hopeless celibacy and unrequited longing. But in real life, these clichés don’t really hold up, especially with the rise of online dating. Nearly 25 percent of people under the age of 34 use online dating apps, with niche communities like Dating for Muggles and Trek Passion attracting superfans looking to bond. Millions of people browse these sites, but the hottest new dating technology is something only the nerdiest romantics could love: DNA-based matchmaking.
You know how people describe that unmistakable emotional connection you have with someone as chemistry? Turns out there is actual chemistry at play. A growing body of evidence suggests that part of human
attraction is based on just a few genes that control receptors in our immune system—and in these instances, opposites attract. People with different genes, and therefore different abilities to fight disease, are more likely to find each other attractive. Evolutionarily speaking, this makes a lot of sense, as it means producing offspring with a wider range of immune defenses than either parent.
