Stock Option Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] Research and Development Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] Research and Development Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] Research and Development Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] Research and Development Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Intrexon Stock Option Plan [Member] General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 AquaBounty Stock Option Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 AquaBounty Stock Option Plan [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 AquaBounty Stock Option Plan [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 AquaBounty Stock Option Plan [Member] General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 AquaBounty Stock Option Plan [Member] General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock based compensation cost							$ 147	$ 154	$ 300	$ 16	$ 641	$ 213	$ 895	$ 504				$ 21	$ 1
Number of authorized awards					5,714,285	2,857,142
Unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested awards	$ 4,364	$ 4,910
Recognized over weighted-average period	3 years	3 years
Option issued																1 year	3 years
Term of issuance of option															10 years
Options outstanding			2,856,905	2,313,526											6,552,000
Weighted average price of option			$ 6.79	$ 5.90											$ 0.25
Options exercisable			931,762												5,552,000