Ethylene Oxide (Strained ether)

Ethylene oxide is the simplest possible epoxide, or three-membered cyclic ether:

i-f9443f0b9d5100d8420e11c8de90536c-ethylene-oxide.gif

It is a superior disinfectant, but it's a gas, and quite toxic, so you'll probably never use it. Even in biology labs, an autoclave is used to disinfect (essentially a pressure cooker - water is heated 12C/21.6F degrees above its normal boiling point). EtO is ubiquitous in disinfecting medical supplies - especially things like bandages and gauses, where a wet autoclave is problematic. Some beasties can happily survive (and reproduce) at autoclave temperatures.

It also has a role in the production of ethylene glycol (used in antifreeze, among other things). Ethylene oxide functional groups ("epoxides") are also found in some molecules, such as some members of the juvenile hormone class.

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Prodigal Academic comments over at Isis's place:
It's remarkable how different RNA and DNA are, considering they're just one atom different. RNA is much more prone to fall apart; you can put DNA in basic solution without any problem, but RNA will begin to hydrolyze. Life takes advantage of the ease with which RNA is degraded.
Cloning the gene for green fluorescent protein is fun. Lots of fun.
Allow me to set the stage. I just emerged from the autoclave room with a cart full of hot, steamy, dirty vials and bottles of Drosophila media in tow (see image below the fold). The glassware had been the home for thousands of flies for a period of over a month.

It also can be polymerized to make poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO or PEG), which, due to its water solubility and biocompatibility, is of great interest in a range of research areas. As a result, for better or worse, the verb "to PEGylate" has come into somewhat common usage. (I blame the biologists)