Final answer:
Introns are removed from the pre-mRNA during processing to ensure accurate protein synthesis. Failure to remove introns can lead to nonfunctional proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
Introns are removed from the pre-mRNA during processing. Their sequences do not encode functional proteins. It is crucial to remove all introns from a pre-mRNA before protein synthesis to ensure that the exons join together correctly to code for the appropriate amino acids. Failure to remove introns or any errors in the splicing process can result in a nonfunctional protein.