(Photo Credit: blog.23andme.com)

Flavor Profile! 23andMe Has The Scoop on Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

The genetic testing company 23andMe has a long list of traits its tests for–everything from a person’s tendency to consume caffeine to their athletic ability. Now, 23andMe says it can predict your favorite ice cream flavor based on your genome.

It all depends on 739 genetic markers that govern your sense of taste and smell, 23andMe said in a press release.

“Several studies have shown that our taste preferences are in part explained by genetics. We wanted to know if we could find a genetic signal associated with ice cream flavor preference. It turns out we can,” 23andMe said in a statement announcing the new genetic report. “By using a statistical model and data from more than 980,000 23andMe research participants, our scientists were able to identify 739 genetic markers associated with preferring vanilla ice cream to chocolate. Pulling those genetic markers together with non-genetic factors — such as age and sex — we developed a model to estimate the likelihood of preferring vanilla ice cream to chocolate.”

But 23andMe also reminds users that taste preferences are influenced by many other factors, including culture and environment. Even age and sex can play a role in what type of foods you prefer.

23andMe currently offers other genetic reports for taste preferences, such as preferring sweet or salty snacks, aversion to bitter-tasting foods, and a distaste for the herb cilantro.