Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands								1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2016	Jan. 08, 2016	Sep. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2015	Mar. 27, 2015	Feb. 03, 2015	Jan. 06, 2011	Sep. 30, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Commitment to purchase common stock												$ 2	$ 34
Stock buy back												2
Change in fair value of derivative liability										$ 21		21
Research and Development Expense										$ 8,975	$ 16,970	148,402	98,643
Research and Development Service Agreement Aggregate Quarterly Payments												3,800
Research and Development Service Agreement Aggregate Payments												$ 22,500
Series 1 Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued										103,063		103,063		0
Preferred stock, stated value										$ 1,200		$ 1,200		$ 1,200
Temporary equity, fair value										$ 3,600		$ 3,600
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)												100,000
License Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Research and Development Expense												$ 67,300		$ 67,300
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)												11,722,163		11,722,163
Intrexon Corporation
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock issued during period						1,440,000
Commitment to purchase common stock					$ 43,500		$ 50,000
Percentage of commitment for payments from receipts of upfronts, milestones and royalties					50.00%
Stock buy back (Shares)				3,711
Stock buy back				$ 34
Share buy back discount on closing price				5.00%
Company re-purchased additional shares		168
Company re-purchased additional shares Value		$ 2
Licensing fee			$ 10,000						$ 115,000
Amounts expensed for services incurred												$ 17,000	11,700
Amount due to related party, current								$ 5,700		$ 3,400	$ 5,700	$ 3,400	$ 5,700
Intrexon Corporation | Series 1 Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued	100,000									3,063		3,063
Preferred stock, stated value	$ 1,200
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 12.00
Intrexon Corporation | 2016 GvHD Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Licensing fee			$ 10,000
Royalty percentage of net profit												20.00%
Research and Development Expense								$ 10,000
Intrexon Corporation | Quarterly Payment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit							20.00%
Intrexon Corporation | Quarterly Payment | ECP Channel Agreement | After Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit	20.00%
Intrexon Corporation | Quarterly Payment | ECP Channel Agreement | Before Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit	50.00%
Intrexon Corporation | Quarterly Payment | 2016 GvHD Amendment | After Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit	20.00%
Intrexon Corporation | Quarterly Payment | 2016 GvHD Amendment | Before Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit	50.00%