Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands											1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 13, 2018	May 11, 2017	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, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock issued during period		9,708,738
Commitment to purchase common stock															$ 2	$ 34
Stock buy back														$ 2,059	2	34
Company re-purchased additional shares Value															1,500	518
Change in fair value of derivative liability													$ 124	1,295	124
Research and Development Expense														45,084	157,791	$ 106,785
Research and Development Service Agreement Aggregate Quarterly Payments														13,000	$ 15,000
Research and Development Service Agreement Aggregate Quarterly Payments														$ 39,200
Subsequent Event
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Research and Development Service Agreement Aggregate Quarterly Payments	$ 34,600
Research and Development Service Agreement Final Payments	$ 2,700
Series 1 Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock, stated value													$ 1,200	$ 1,200	$ 1,200
Temporary equity, fair value														$ 18,900
License Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)									11,722,163					11,722,163		11,722,163
Research and Development Expense														$ 67,300		$ 67,300
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock issued during period								1,440,000
Percentage of commitment for payments from receipts of upfronts, milestones and royalties							50.00%
Commitment to purchase common stock							$ 43,500			$ 50,000
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
Royalty percentage of net profit														20.00%
Amounts expensed for services incurred														$ 21,400	$ 22,200	$ 16,300
Amount due to related party, current													$ 3,400	$ 6,800	$ 3,400
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | Series 1 Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock in licensing agreement (in shares)			100,000											13,460
Preferred stock, stated value			$ 1,200
Dividends, preferred stock			$ 12.00
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | 2016 GvHD Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Licensing fee					$ 10,000
Research and Development Expense											$ 10,000
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | Quarterly Payment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit										20.00%
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | Quarterly Payment | ECP Channel Agreement | After Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit			20.00%
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | Quarterly Payment | ECP Channel Agreement | Before Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit			50.00%
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | Quarterly Payment | 2016 GvHD Amendment | After Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit			20.00%
Intrexon Corporation/Precigen | Quarterly Payment | 2016 GvHD Amendment | Before Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalty percentage of net profit			50.00%