Billions luxury Magazine - LIVING u
Last year ’ s Netflix drama “ The One ” became a huge hit during the Coronavirus lockdown , it centres around a geneticist who invents a new matchmaking service using DNA to help people find their romantic and sexual match : their “ one ”.
“ A single strand of hair is all it takes to be matched with the one person you are genetically guaranteed to fall in love with ”, says Dr Rebecca Webb ( Hannah Ware ). “ The moment you meet your match , your one true love , nothing will ever be the same again .”
“ The One ” asks what would happen if we could use a DNA database to match soulmates . More importantly , it assumes if such technology existed it would be a wholly commercial enterprise — imagining a not-to-distant future where tech and tech giants mediate dating , sex and relationships .
So , in these growing technological times is this future just around the corner ?
the populArity of home dnA testing
Home DNA testing is now a massive business . It is estimated that by 2022 it will be worth over $ 10billion globally . DNA testing companies have fuelled a cultural fascination with biology , in which genetic dispositions are conflated with identity regarded by some as the secret to understanding who we fundamentally are as people .
We all know that DNA kits explore genetic and cultural history can tailor diets and look at genetic health risks but there are some companies such as Canada ’ s DNA Romance and Instant Chemistry that already claim to help people find love and sexual compatibility through DNA tests . People are asked to send in saliva swaps , and their DNA is tested to genotype human leukocyte antigens , also known as the major histocompatibility compex which are important regulators of the immune system , which also impact our body odour .
Genotyping identifies which variants of these genes each of us carry and supposedly determine who we are attracted to .
Companies claim to match people on the basis of this test for the best genetic love match . Of course there is no compelling evicence as to whether or not DNA matching can support a more fulfilling love life . These current tests on major histocompatability complex are based on limited experiments with mixed results . Indeed for most things , home DNA testing isn ’ t scientifically advanced enough to give us true insights . It also comes with ethical concerns such as fears over data hacking and bodily autonomy in relation to who owns DNA data , and the accurancy of the data provdied .
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