Mergers and Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 06, 2014 Medistem, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2014 Medistem, Inc.	Mar. 06, 2014 Medistem, Inc. Note	Mar. 06, 2014 Medistem, Inc. Settlement of Promissory Notes	Sep. 30, 2014 Medistem, Inc. Selling, general and administrative expense	Aug. 08, 2014 Trans Ova Genetics, LC	Sep. 30, 2014 Trans Ova Genetics, LC	Sep. 30, 2014 Trans Ova Genetics, LC	Aug. 08, 2014 Trans Ova Genetics, LC	Sep. 30, 2012 Trans Ova Genetics, LC	Sep. 30, 2014 Trans Ova Genetics, LC Selling, general and administrative expense	Sep. 30, 2014 Trans Ova Genetics, LC Selling, general and administrative expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding common stock acquired							100.00%						100.00%
Business acquisition, consideration paid, shares issued					714,144					1,444,388
Cash					$ 4,920,000					$ 63,165,000
Deferred cash consideration			20,115,000	0						20,115,000
Revenues	21,197,000	6,042,000	40,838,000	16,617,000							8,502,000	8,502,000
Net loss attributable to Intrexon	52,725,000	(15,498,000)	100,653,000	26,776,000							373,000	373,000
Business combination, consideration transferred and noncontrolling interest													123,519,000
Possible future contingent payments to former equity holders														6,000,000
Possible future contingent payments to former equity holders, current valuation											0	0
Business combination, acquisition related cost						680,000			310,000			684,000			372,000	684,000
Number of promissory notes settled upon the closing of the merger							2
Fair value of total consideration transferred					$ 24,995,000			$ 707,000		$ 116,082,000
Shares of merger consideration surrendered by acquiree management to reimburse for required payroll tax withholdings					17,695