Highly specific for ethanolamine phosphorylation. May be a rate-controlling step in phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis. ATP + ethanolamine = ADP + H(+) + phosphoethanolamine Phospholipid metabolism; phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis; phosphatidylethanolamine from ethanolamine: step 1/3. 'Bang sensitive' phenotype; induction of paralysis with electrical stimulation results in a brief seizure, followed by a failure of the muscles to respond to giant fiber stimulation. This is due to an excitability defect caused by altered membrane phospholipid composition. Belongs to the choline/ethanolamine kinase family. Intron retention.