Ethyl methanesulfonate is a DNA ethylating agent, mutagenic to plants and animals and carcinogenic in mammals. It has been used as a model alkylating agent in studies of DNA repair processes. It induces base substitutions of guanine-cytosine (G/C) to adenine-thymine (A/T). EMS also generates point mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms in genomes.

Providing storage is as stated on the product vial and the vial is kept tightly sealed, the product can be stored for up to 24 months.
Wherever possible, you should prepare and use solutions on the same day. However, if you need to make up stock solutions in advance, we recommend that you store the solution as aliquots in tightly sealed vials at -20°C. Generally, these will be useable for up to one month. Before use, and prior to opening the vial we recommend that you allow your product to equilibrate to room temperature for at least 1 hour.