What process is characterized by the birth of new cells in the skin?

The process characterized by the birth of new cells in the skin is mitosis. Mitosis is a form of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell. This process is crucial for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues, including the skin. In the context of skin health, mitosis occurs in the basal layer of the epidermis where new skin cells are generated. As these new cells form, they push older cells toward the skin's surface, where they eventually shed off.

Desquamation refers to the shedding of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and is part of the skin’s natural exfoliation process. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, a mechanism that helps remove damaged or unnecessary cells. Cellular differentiation involves the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized cell types, but it does not directly relate to the creation of new cells in the skin. Hence, mitosis is the specific process responsible for the birth of new skin cells.