Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 09, 2017	Jun. 29, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expenses			$ 8,452	$ 7,997	$ 4,743
Weighted average fair value of stock option granted			$ 4.43	$ 10.47	$ 3.58
Subsequent Event | Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contractual obligations over the next three years	$ 7,500
Stock Options
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expenses			$ 3,000	$ 5,300	$ 3,700
Restricted Stock
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expenses			5,500	2,700	1,000
Employee and Director Awards
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock based compensation expenses			8,500	$ 8,000	$ 4,700
Other Noncurrent Assets | Lease Obligations
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted cash			388
Other Noncurrent Assets | Line of Credit
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted cash			$ 104
Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life			3 years
Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life			5 years
Intrexon Corporation | Series 1 Preferred Stock
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Issuance of stock in a license agreement (in shares)		100,000	6,184
Number of shares converted into common stock			20,465,067
Preferred stock, conversion rate			$ 1.00