Term Name:	heterocyst development
Synonyms:	heterocyst cell differentiation, heterocyst differentiation, heterocyst formation
Definition:	The cellular developmental process by which a cell becomes a heterocyst, a cell that carries out nitrogen fixation. This process involves changes to the cell wall, expression of nitrogenase and other proteins involved in nitrogen fixation, and degradation of photosystem II, which produces oxygen. This process is known to occur in some cyanobacteria.
Ontology:	GO: Biological Process [GO:0043158]    QuickGO    AmiGO