Which statement is used to create a new dataset from existing data in a DATA step?

The DATA statement is essential for creating a new dataset from existing data within a DATA step in SAS. When you use the DATA statement, you define the name of the new dataset that you want to create, and it sets the context for data manipulation and transformation. This has significant implications for data processing, as it allows you to read data from existing datasets, apply various functions or transformations, and output a new dataset that consists of the modified data.

In contrast, other options do not fulfill this specific purpose. The VERSION statement is used to specify the version of SAS that will be used, which does not have any impact on dataset creation. The CREATE statement is not a valid SAS statement for dataset creation; instead, it's an ambiguous term and could refer to various applications outside of standard SAS procedures. PROC statements are used for procedure calls that perform analysis, reporting, or data manipulation, but they do not create datasets from scratch like the DATA statement does. Thus, the DATA statement is the correct choice for creating a new dataset from existing data.