Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares issued as compensation for services			$ 3,083,000
Collaboration and licensing revenues			24,073,000	$ 14,783,000
Third Security, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense for services			$ 46,000	41,000
Initial term of services agreement	1 year
Shares issued as compensation for services (in shares)			79,870
Shares issued as compensation for services			$ 2,267,000
Third Security, LLC | Common Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense for services	$ 800,000
Oragenics, Inc.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Maximum percentage of shares of future securities offerings of collaborative partners to which the entity is entitled to purchase			30.00%
Oragenics, Inc. | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock purchase commitment			$ 10,000
Oragenics ECC 3
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Commitment period for purchase of additional common stock after effective date		16 months
Related Parties, Aggregated
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Collaboration and licensing revenues			19,999,000	$ 12,796,000
Harvest Intrexon Enterprise Fund I, LP | Other nonoperating income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fees revenue			$ 645,000