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The new Netflix series ‘The One’ has taken the streaming service by storm, currently sitting at number 1 in the UK after only a few days of being released.
The series follows the main character Rebecca Webb, who is CEO of a company that uses human DNA samples to find users their one true soulmate and the person that they’re ‘guaranteed’ to fall in love with.
The character Kate Saunders who plays a detective in the series, immediately find success with the app as she starts a relationship with a Spanish woman named Sophia.
Throughout the first episode, Kate truly believes she’s about to meet the love of her life as she waits for Sophia to travel across to the UK from Spain.
The series is based on the book of the same name by John Mars, which explores the world of science as a way of finding your perfect match.
The extraordinary idea that people could be matched with their true love through DNA testing have fans of the show hooked, with many questioning whether the concept could become a reality.
In an interview on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, The One star Zoe Tapper who plays Kate, spoke about the intriguing premise of the new show and it’s terrifying parallels with real life during the pandemic.
She said: “I was so intrigued by the premise, when it was first presented to me. I just kind of love this idea that you take something as objective as science and kind of place it next to something as intangible as love and kind of what that does and how it sort of wreaks havoc on society and the way people interact with each other.”
After watching the series, you may be questioning whether the theory of using DNA to find suitable matches is just a wild fantasy or if there is actually some theory to back up this crazy idea.
It may come as a shock to hear that there has actually been a few apps over time which have tried to match partners through DNA and genetics.
One that gained attention and seemed to get pretty far was a dating app called ‘Pheramor,’ created by Brittany Baretto.
The dating app aims to connect singles by using the science of physical chemistry and social alignment.
It works by users sending off a DNA sample which the company then analyses and matches with potential partners.
At one point, the dating app was reported to have 3000 members.
In 2014, it was reported by the Daily Mail that there was another dating site using DNA testing to look for matches under the same of ‘SingledOut.’
SingledOut works by sending the DNA of customers to a lab to test for two genetic markers.
One is related to serotonin levels, while the other is related to the genes that effect the immune system, and together these markers can determine how likely a relationship is to last.
The website still runs today under the URL ‘DNAromance.com.’
The dating site states: “DNA Romance is an online dating site that forecast romantic chemistry between people using DNA markers that have shown to play a role in human attraction.
In addition we forecast ‘personality compatibility’ using psychology and allow you to evaluate physical attraction based on your matches photograph and biographical details.