Comment on "The silicate-mediated formose reaction: bottom-up synthesis of sugar silicates".

Lambert et al. (Reports, 19 February 2010, p. 984) reported that silicate ions catalyze the formation and stabilization of four- and six-carbon sugars from simple sugars, suggesting a possible prebiotic pathway for the synthesis of biologically important sugars. Here, we show that silicate has minimal impact in these respects, especially when compared to borate minerals.