To answer this question, you need to understand the concept of protoplasm and its description as the physical basis of life. Let's go through each option to understand why it is correct or incorrect:
Option A) T.H. Huxley - This option is correct. T.H. Huxley, also known as Thomas Henry Huxley, described protoplasm as the physical basis of life. He was an English biologist and a strong supporter of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Option B) Leeuwenhoek - This option is incorrect. Leeuwenhoek, also known as Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, was a Dutch scientist who is often referred to as the "father of microbiology" for his pioneering work in the field of microscopy. However, he did not describe protoplasm as the physical basis of life.
Option C) Rudolf Virchow - This option is incorrect. Rudolf Virchow was a German physician, pathologist, and politician. He is known for his contributions to the field of cellular pathology, including the concept of "Omnis cellula e cellula" (every cell arises from a pre-existing cell). However, he did not describe protoplasm as the physical basis of life.
Option D) J. C. Bose - This option is incorrect. J. C. Bose, also known as Jagadish Chandra Bose, was an Indian scientist who made significant contributions to the field of plant physiology and biophysics. While his work focused on the response of plants to various stimuli and the demonstration of electrical signaling in plants, he did not specifically describe protoplasm as the physical basis of life.
The correct answer is Option A) T.H. Huxley. This option is correct because T.H. Huxley described protoplasm as the physical basis of life.