Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' and Total Equity - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2015 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Total Intrexon Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 409,289		$ 843,001	$ (4)	$ (458,236)	$ 384,761	$ 24,528
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	100,557,932	100,557,932
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 18,166		18,027			18,027	139
Exercises of stock options and warrants	10,382		10,382			10,382	0
Exercises of stock options and warrants, shares		768,790
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors	480		480			480
Shares issued to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors (in shares)		10,106
Shares issued in public offering, net of offering costs	110,041		110,041			110,041
Shares issued in public offering, net of offering costs (in shares)		4,312,500
Shares issued as consideration of license agreement	59,579		59,579			59,579
Shares issued as consideration of license agreement (in shares)		2,100,085
Shares issued in acquisitions	70,668		70,668			70,668
Shares issued in acquisitions (in shares)		1,673,230
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(1,566)		9,412			9,412	(10,978)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (in shares)		307,074
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	250		(249)			(249)	499
Noncash dividend	(172,419)		(172,419)			(172,419)
Net loss	(15,690)				(13,566)	(13,566)	(2,124)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,253)			(2,281)		(2,281)	28
Balances at Jun. 30, 2015	$ 486,927		$ 948,922	$ (2,285)	$ (471,802)	$ 474,835	$ 12,092
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2015	109,729,717	109,729,717