Along the lines of the compatible DNA...
I read about a study many years ago where 10 men and 10 women weren't allowed to shower or use any fragrance/deoderant products for three days or so (and had to wear the same white t-shirt the whole time.) Then they were all put in a room together and told to mingle. After a few hours, they were told to rank the respective 10 on general attraction--not just looks, but who they were genuinely interested in after the conversing.
Almost unilaterally, men and women both ranked highest the people in the room who had immune systems the most opposite of their own, the concluding theory being that mating with someone who complemented your weaknesses with their strengths would produce healthier offspring, and the pheromones subconsciously clued them in to what their immune system was like.
No, I have no reference for it. But as anecdotal evidence... I get bacterial infections constantly, but I've only had fungal infections a couple of times in my entire life. My husband is the exact opposite, fungal infections every few months but never needs antibiotics for anything. I've never had a single cavity; he had more than all his siblings put together.
Anyone else experience this, or did I just hear that Paula Abdul song too many times as a child?
