Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' and Total Equity (Deficit) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) USD ($)	Accumulated Deficit USD ($)	Total Intrexon Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ (221,259)		$ 0	$ 0	$ (221,259)	$ (221,259)	$ 0
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		5,453,893
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	1,458		1,458			1,458
Exercises of stock options	473		473			473
Exercises of stock options, shares		194,570
Contribution of services by shareholder	1,550		1,550			1,550
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors	93		93			93
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors, shares		13,062
Accretion of dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock	(21,994)		(3,574)		(18,420)	(21,994)
Acquisitions	0
Net loss	(81,874)				(81,874)	(81,874)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(321,553)		0	0	(321,553)	(321,553)	0
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		5,661,525
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Shares issued in IPO or private placement	168,801		168,801			168,801
Shares issued in IPO or private placement, shares		11,499,998
Stock-based compensation expense	2,921		2,812			2,812	109
Exercises of stock options and warrants	414		410			410	4
Exercises of stock options and warrants, shares		176,531
Contribution of services by shareholder	1,550		1,550			1,550
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors	124		124			124
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors, shares		10,595
Accretion of dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock	(18,391)		(2,510)		(15,881)	(18,391)
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred shares, including accrued dividends, to common stock, value	571,898		571,898			571,898
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred shares, including accrued dividends, to common stock, shares		79,705,130
Settlement of fractional shares from reverse stock split, value	(1)		(1)			(1)
Settlement of fractional shares from reverse stock split, shares		(67)
Acquisitions	0
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	16,409						16,409
Net loss	(40,908)				(38,980)	(38,980)	(1,928)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	79			52		52	27
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	381,343		743,084	52	(376,414)	366,722	14,621
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	97,053,712	97,053,712
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Shares issued in IPO or private placement	25,000		25,000			25,000
Shares issued in IPO or private placement, shares		972,004
Stock-based compensation expense	21,849		21,692			21,692	157
Exercises of stock options and warrants	1,489		1,477			1,477	12
Exercises of stock options and warrants, shares		374,471
Contribution of services by shareholder	1,991		1,991			1,991
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors	486		486			486
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors, shares		16,908
Accretion of dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock	0
Acquisitions	51,682		51,682			51,682	0
Acquisitions, shares		2,140,837
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	11,077		(2,411)			(2,411)	13,488
Net loss	(85,616)				(81,822)	(81,822)	(3,794)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(12)			(56)		(56)	44
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 409,289		$ 843,001	$ (4)	$ (458,236)	$ 384,761	$ 24,528
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	100,557,932	100,557,932