Body architecture versus atmospheric geochemistry and evolution

The article analyzes the inextricable link between atmospheric geochemistry and biological evolution, focusing on the role of oxygen as a catalyst for the complexity of life. The author discusses the transition from the dominance of microorganisms to the emergence of large multicellular organisms, pointing to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) as a key turning point. The text explains that oxygen was not a primary condition for life, but a product of metabolism that restructured the space of possible biological processes and enabled the development of active animals. The analysis also covers taphonomic issues and difficulties in interpreting the oldest fossils, emphasizing that the current architecture of the human body is the result of a long-term 'negotiation' with a dynamically changing planetary environment.