Mechanisms like this are why I hate evolution as taught in K-12. The basic model (random mutations + selection of the fittest + sexual intermixing) is not just oversimplified, but oversimplified to the point of being wrong on many levels.

(It's not just the way DNA can jump between species; there's are many other mechanisms, such as evidence of rates of mutation changing during major changes like ice ages, dynamics of sexual partner selection, etc.).

Combined, those have deep implications, but outside of the scope of a HN post.

The free version of the research paper:

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.12.499685v1

What's the difference between these mavericks and prions?

If it can happen between species it must be able to happen between individuals of a species which means who I associate with can affect my DNA?