def _index_chains(chains):
        '''
        Given a list of LiftOverChain objects, creates a
         dict: source_name --> 
            IntervalTree: <source_from, source_to> -->
                (target_from, target_to, chain)
        Returns the resulting dict.
        Throws an exception on any errors or inconsistencies among chains (e.g. different sizes specified for the same chromosome in various chains).
        '''
        chain_index = {}
        source_size = {}
        target_size = {}
        for c in chains:
            # Verify that sizes of chromosomes are consistent over all chains
            source_size.setdefault(c.source_name, c.source_size)
            if source_size[c.source_name] != c.source_size:
                raise Exception("Chains have inconsistent specification of source chromosome size for %s (%d vs %d)" % (c.source_name, source_size[c.source_name], c.source_size))
            target_size.setdefault(c.target_name, c.target_size)
            if target_size[c.target_name] != c.target_size:
                raise Exception("Chains have inconsistent specification of target chromosome size for %s (%d vs %d)" % (c.target_name, target_size[c.target_name], c.target_size))
            chain_index.setdefault(c.source_name, IntervalTree(0, c.source_size))
            # Register all blocks from the chain in the corresponding interval tree
            tree = chain_index[c.source_name]
            for (sfrom, sto, tfrom, tto) in c.blocks:
                tree.add_interval(sfrom, sto, (tfrom, tto, c))

        # Sort all interval trees
        for k in chain_index:
            chain_index[k].sort()
        return chain_index
Given a list of LiftOverChain objects, creates a
         dict: source_name --> 
            IntervalTree: <source_from, source_to> -->
                (target_from, target_to, chain)
        Returns the resulting dict.
        Throws an exception on any errors or inconsistencies among chains (e.g. different sizes specified for the same chromosome in various chains).