Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)									1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2016	Jan. 08, 2016	Sep. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2015	Mar. 27, 2015	Feb. 03, 2015	Jan. 13, 2015	Jan. 06, 2011	Sep. 30, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Commitment to purchase common stock											$ 2,000	$ 34,000
Research and Development Expense											157,791,000	106,785,000	$ 32,706,000
Research and Development Service Agreement Aggregate Quarterly Payments											15,000,000	11,300,000
Stock buy back											2,000	34,000
Company re-purchased additional shares Value											1,500,000	$ 518,000	544,000
Change in fair value of derivative liability											$ 124,000
Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Research and Development Expense							$ 15,000,000
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership percentage											5.00%
Series 1 Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, stated value											$ 1,200	$ 1,200
Temporary equity, fair value											$ 7,100,000
License Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Research and Development Expense											$ 67,300,000	$ 67,300,000
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)							11,722,163				11,722,163	11,722,163
Preferred stock, shares issued							11,722,163				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					$ 43,500,000			$ 50,000,000
Percentage of commitment for payments from receipts of upfronts, milestones and royalties					50.00%
Stock buy back (Shares)				3,711
Stock buy back				$ 34,000
Share buy back discount on closing price				5.00%
Company re-purchased additional shares		168
Company re-purchased additional shares Value		$ 2,000
Licensing fee			$ 10,000,000							$ 115,000,000
Amounts expensed for services incurred											$ 22,200,000	$ 16,300,000	$ 12,000,000
Amount due to related party, current											$ 3,400,000	$ 4,600,000
Intrexon Corporation | Series 1 Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)	100,000										6,184
Preferred stock, shares issued	100,000										6,184
Preferred stock, stated value	$ 1,200
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 12.00
Intrexon Corporation | 2016 GvHD Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Research and Development Expense									$ 10,000,000
Licensing fee			$ 10,000,000
Royalty percentage of net profit											20.00%
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%