Björn Gylemo
About Me
I am a computational biologist and currently a postdoctoral researcher in Colm Nestor’s research group. I earned my Ph.D. from Linköping University, Sweden, in Colm Nestor’s lab, where I studied the dynamics of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in humans. My research focused on the fidelity of XCI escape during human T cell development, the variability of escape across tissues within individuals, and the frequency and genetic basis of constitutional XCI skew. To investigate XCI escape, I employed integrative analyses of both direct measures, including single-cell and bulk allele-specific expression (the latter in females with completely skewed XCI), and indirect measures such as DNA methylation and sex-biased gene expression. For studying constitutional XCI skew, we developed a novel method, Tandem Repeat-based Identification of X-chromosome Inactivation (TRiXi), and but I have also leveraged long-read nanopore sequencing to assess XCI skew via allele-specific methylation. Currently, I am exploring the research opportunities enabled by nanopore and long-read sequencing, including adaptive sampling strategies tailored to our experimental needs and applications in epitranscriptomics. My broader interests lie in genetics, with a particular focus on the sex chromosomes. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, running, mountain biking, and hiking.
Research Interests
- X-chromosome inactivation
- Single-cell technologies
- Long-read sequencing
- Adaptive sampling
News
- [Sep. 2025] I successfully defended my PhD!
- [Jan. 2025] Our paper about escape from XCI across multiple tissues within the same individuals is published in eLife!
- [Dec. 2024] Our paper investigating X-inactivation in human T cell development is published in Nature Communications!
Key Publications
First author papers
X-chromosome inactivation papers, first in T cell development and then across tissues within the same individual.
Other papers
Papers I’m on but not as first author. One paper on spermatogenesis and the Y-chromosome genes in mice, one paper on DNA N6-methyladenine in mammals.