[Physicist]

It DOES happen. And it's called lateral gene transfer.

Mea culpa, mea culpa. I had meant to specify the multicellular organisms, and am shamefast that I did not. Lateral gene transfer is important in microorganisms.

[Nebullis]

I had meant to specify the multicellular organisms, and am shamefast that I did not. Lateral gene transfer is important in microorganisms.

Indeed. It's also important for muliticellulars like plants.