What seems kinda surprising to me is there is no real comprehensive theory about why these exist.

Focusing on bacteria because they’re the easier case to think about.

If it’s such a great niche why are the vast majority of bacteria in the body, on the skin and in the environment not infectious agents.

How much tradeoff once become infectious btw lethality and spreadability?

Why does that tradeoff seemingly not apply to anything that has vector driven dispersals?

Is this a stable niche or do infectious agents tend to go extinct or become communalists?

I am a little confused because a prion isnt a complicated living organism like bacteria/virus. So the concept of evolution in this aspect doesnt make sense to me.

Are there any other collectors of Charles Darwin books who would be interested in arranging book swaps by mail?

I’ve been collecting books by Charles Darwin, especially On the Origin of Species, for several years now. It started out as a random thing but gradually turned into an interesting hobby. Now, whenever I travel, I try to bring home at least one Charles Darwin book as a souvenir.

I’ve accumulated a bunch of old and new editions of On the Origin of Species in different languages, and I’d love to connect with other collectors and, if our interests match, exchange books by mail. Maybe this thread will also help other collectors to meet each other.