A chromosome map showing the locations of those regions of a chromosome where contiguous DNA segments overlap. Contig maps are important because they provide the ability to study a complete, and often large segment of the genome by examining a series of overlapping clones which then provide an unbroken succession of information about that region.

Dr. Eric Green, of the National Human Genome Research Institute's Genome Technology Branch, defines contig.

Related terms: bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), chromosome, cloning, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), gene, genome, physical map, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC).