While these introductory comments capture key aspects are a fair characterization

[GoodTaste]

While these introductory comments capture key aspects are a fair characterization of the legacy of the HGP 20 years on, a separate challenge sets limits on the potential for studies of germ line variants to predict common disease. The vast source of between-person variation in risk lies in environmental for the bulk of chronic disease, ie, cardiovascular, cancer, obesity/diabetes and renal disease. The determining role of risk exposure therefore sets an upper bound for genetic factors - both at the aggregate or population level, and to a lesser extent between-person risk. Although this dynamic is acknowledged in passing, it has never been adequately appreciated within the field of genomics.

Source: Science The human genome: A Research Ultramarathon

What is the subject of "are"? In the phrase "While these introductory comments capture key aspects are a fair characterization...", "key aspects" appears to be the object of "capture" and not assume the role of being the subject of "are". Something seems missing there. I don't what is missing. Can you figure it out?

The best I've now got is "key aspects which are a fair characterization of the legacy".

 

[Tarheel]

I think your analysis is correct.

In an article like that rather than dwell on one sentence too long I would just keep reading until it was explained to me.

In online articles the proofreading is not always of the highest quality. (That's assuming there is a proofreader.)

 

[jutfrank]

Well done for noticing that the sentence is ungrammatical. My feeling is that the writer meant this:

While these introductory comments capture key aspects and are a fair characterization of the legacy of the HGP 20 years on ...