Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2014	Aug. 13, 2013	Jul. 26, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 20, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Reverse stock split ratio			1-for-1.75
Reverse stock split ratio			0.57143
Shares of common stock	972,004
Price per share of common stock	$ 25.72
Aggregate proceeds from the IPO				$ 0	$ 168,801	$ 0
Shares of common stock		79,705,130
Number of authorized shares of common stock		200,000,000		200,000,000	200,000,000
Number of authorized shares of preferred stock		25,000,000
Exemplar Genetics, LLC
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Parent ownership interest				51.00%
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Parent ownership interest				60.00%			59.85%
Biological & Popular Culture, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Parent ownership interest				51.00%
IPO
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Shares of common stock		11,499,998
Price per share of common stock		16.00
Aggregate proceeds from the IPO		168,300
Underwriting discounts and commissions		12,900
Offering expense paid		2,800
Capitalized expenses		2,300
Exercise of Overallotment Option by Underwriters
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Shares of common stock		1,499,999