public boolean chromKeysMatch(String chromKey) {
        String thisKey = this.chromKey;
        String thatKey = chromKey;

        // Note: must have the same length to compare chromosome names
        int thisKeyLength = thisKey.length();
        int thatKeyLength = thatKey.length();

        // check if need to truncate the larger string
        if(thisKeyLength > thatKeyLength)
            thisKey = thisKey.substring(0,thatKeyLength);
        else if(thatKeyLength > thisKeyLength)
            thatKey = thatKey.substring(0,thisKeyLength);

        if (thisKey.compareTo(thatKey) == 0)
            return true;
        else
            return false;
    }