Stock Option Plans - Intrexon Stock Option Plans - Summary of Information About Stock Options Outstanding (Detail) (Intrexon Stock Option Plans, USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 22.59	$ 8.27	$ 5.90	$ 5.22
Options outstanding, number of options	8,323,544	2,840,648
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining life (years)	8 years 7 months 21 days	7 years 9 months
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 52,219	$ 44,333
Options exercisable, number of options	1,448,434	1,227,563
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 8.27	$ 5.37
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining life (years)	6 years 3 months	6 years 5 months 9 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	28,189	22,638
Price range 1
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options, exercise price range, lower limit (usd per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.39
Stock options, exercise price range, upper limit (usd per share)	$ 9.67	$ 5.91
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 6.49	$ 3.15
Options outstanding, number of options	1,747,494	658,051
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining life (years)	6 years 3 months	4 years 11 months 16 days
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	36,772	13,592
Options exercisable, number of options	1,293,184	571,116
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 6.07	$ 2.78
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining life (years)	5 years 10 months 24 days	4 years 7 months 17 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	27,746	12,003
Price range 2
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options, exercise price range, lower limit (usd per share)	$ 15.39	$ 7.12
Stock options, exercise price range, upper limit (usd per share)	$ 22.77	$ 7.12
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 21.74	$ 7.12
Options outstanding, number of options	2,603,300	1,194,887
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining life (years)	9 years 3 months 26 days	7 years 9 months 18 days
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	15,084	19,931
Options exercisable, number of options	57,000	546,805
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 19.77	$ 7.12
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining life (years)	9 years 18 days	7 years 9 months 7 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	442	9,121
Price range 3
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options, exercise price range, lower limit (usd per share)	$ 24.73	$ 9.67
Stock options, exercise price range, upper limit (usd per share)	$ 28.69	$ 9.67
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 26.21	$ 9.67
Options outstanding, number of options	260,750	701,710
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining life (years)	9 years 8 months 27 days	9 years 4 months 28 days
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	363	9,915
Options exercisable, number of options	8,250	107,142
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 28.25	$ 9.67
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining life (years)	8 years 7 months 17 days	9 years 4 months 28 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	1	1,514
Price range 4
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options, exercise price range, lower limit (usd per share)	$ 29.95	$ 19.83
Stock options, exercise price range, upper limit (usd per share)	$ 29.95	$ 19.83
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 29.95	$ 19.83
Options outstanding, number of options	1,000,000	225,500
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining life (years)	9 years 2 months 16 days	9 years 11 months 16 days
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	0	895
Options exercisable, number of options	0	0
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining life (years)	0 days	0 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	0	0
Price range 5
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options, exercise price range, lower limit (usd per share)	$ 30.72	$ 26.76
Stock options, exercise price range, upper limit (usd per share)	$ 30.72	$ 28.69
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 30.72	$ 27.33
Options outstanding, number of options	2,712,000	60,500
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining life (years)	9 years 2 months 19 days	9 years 8 months 1 day
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	0	0
Options exercisable, number of options	90,000	2,500
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (usd per share)	$ 30.72	$ 28.69
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining life (years)	9 years 2 months 19 days	9 years 7 months 13 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0	$ 0