Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended																			1 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2013	Jan. 20, 2012	Feb. 03, 2011	Jan. 12, 2011	May 27, 2010	Jun. 02, 2010	Dec. 04, 2009	Dec. 09, 2009	Sep. 15, 2009	Feb. 23, 2007	May 03, 2006	Jun. 06, 2005	Jan. 31, 2004	Sep. 30, 2003	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 26, 2006	Dec. 31, 2005	Feb. 29, 2004	Oct. 29, 2013 Intrexon Corporation	Nov. 07, 2012 Intrexon Corporation	Jan. 25, 2012 Intrexon Corporation
Equity [Line Items]
Shares of authorized capital stock																	280,000,000
Common stock, shares authorized															250,000,000	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock par value per share				$ 0.001	$ 0.001										$ 0.001	$ 0.001	$ 0.001	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized															30,000,000	30,000,000	30,000,000
Preferred stock par value															$ 0.001	$ 0.001	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common Stock Additional Shares Issued				3,636,926									9,017,538	1,001,949	100,159,618	83,236,840
Price per share													$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 3.50
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	$ 57,600	$ 52,600	$ 63,500	$ 11,600		$ 35,000		$ 48,000	$ 5,100	$ 30,900	$ 37,000	$ 18,100	$ 4,500	$ 500
Common Stock Shares Sold	16,445,000	10,114,401	11,040,000	2,426,235	7,000,000	7,000,000	15,484,000	15,484,000	2,772,337	5,910,049	7,991,256
Common stock price per share	$ 3.50	$ 5.20	$ 5.75	$ 4.80		$ 5.00	$ 3.10	$ 3.10	$ 1.825	$ 5.225	$ 4.63
Issuance of common stock																				2,857,143	3,636,926	1,923,075
Common stock, shares outstanding															100,159,618	83,236,840
Preferred stock, shares issued															0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding															0	0