Love is a science according to Pheramor, a dating app that claims to use your deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to measure compatibility based on physical chemistry. Founded in February 2018, the Houston-based company is now spreading the love, expanding its matchmaking services nationwide, KHOU reports.

Here’s how it works: For $29.99, Pheramor ships you a DNA Kit. Then, in the name of love, swab your cheeks and return your cheek cells to the company in the mail. Once received, Pheramor sequences 11 genes allegedly linked to attraction to determine biological compatibility.

“When Pheramor receives your swab back, we send it to our laboratory, where they isolate your cheek cells and take out the DNA. From the DNA, we sequence your human leukocyte antigen genes, or HLA genes. This is what predicts attraction,” CEO and founder Dr. Brittany Barreto told KHOU.

“These genes encode proteins for your immune system. Scientists have shown in dozens of publications that people are attracted to one another when their HLA genes are different. That’s right! ‘Opposites attract’ is biologically true,” she noted.

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Pheramor also suggests that users connect their social media accounts to its app so that the company can data-mine for personality traits and mutual interests, according to Wired.

Combining your DNA results and social media stats, the app sends you three potential mates in your area, daily, with profile photos blurred to discourage mindless swiping, Wired reports.

How deep is your potential love? Profiles also include a score, between zero and 100, grading the likelihood of your love connection with each match. Of note, Pheramor users reportedly have more second dates than people on those other apps, reports KHOU.

And while there’s a buzz surrounding the privacy of your DNA results, Pheramor does not sell your data, according to KHOU.

“We only sequence 11 genes related with physical attraction, so we don’t know about data like diseases, eye color or ancestry,” co-founder and chief technology officer Dr. Bin Huang said.

Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message