Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands						9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2016	Feb. 17, 2015	Feb. 09, 2015	Feb. 03, 2015	Jan. 13, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jul. 01, 2016	Apr. 26, 2006
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
Preferred stock, shares authorized										30,000,000
Preferred stock par value										$ 0.001
Change in fair value of derivative liability							$ 124
Series 1 Preferred Stock
Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock, stated value							$ 1,200	$ 1,200
Maximum percentage of common stock issuable upon conversion of preferred stock							19.90%
Fair value of Series 1 preferred stock as a component of temporary equity							$ 125,321
Temporary equity, fair value							7,100
Intrexon Corporation
Equity [Line Items]
Stock issued during period				1,440,000
Embedded conversion liability							$ 900
Fair value of Series 1 preferred stock as a component of temporary equity									$ 118,200
Intrexon Corporation | Series 1 Preferred Stock
Equity [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)	100,000						6,184
Preferred stock, stated value	$ 1,200
Preferred stock, conversion rate							$ 1.00
Maximum percentage of common stock issuable upon conversion of preferred stock							19.90%
Preferred stock monthly dividend payable (per share)	$ 12.00
Intrexon Corporation | Series 1 Preferred Stock | Before Conversion Event Date
Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock monthly dividend payable (per share)						$ 12.00
Intrexon Corporation | Series 1 Preferred Stock | Remaining Unconverted Shares
Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock monthly dividend payable (per share)						$ 24.00
License Agreement
Equity [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)					11,722,163		11,722,163	11,722,163
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Equity [Line Items]
Stock issued during period		1,500,000	10,000,000	10,000,000
Issuance & sale of common stock in public offering price per share				$ 8.75
Sale of stock price per share				$ 8.225
Option granted, exercisable period				30 days
Option to purchase common stock				1,500,000
Expected net proceeds from issuance of common stock		$ 94,300