What role do introns play in the gene expression process of eukaryotes?

Introns are non-coding sections of DNA that are removed during the process of gene expression in eukaryotes. They do not code for proteins but play a crucial role in regulating gene expression by affecting how the coding regions (exons) are spliced together. This process, known as alternative splicing, allows a single gene to produce multiple protein variants, increasing the diversity of proteins that can be produced from a single gene.