Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 325,239	$ 197,729
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	310,937	181,331
Upfront and Milestone Payments | ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	148,494	30,338
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Oragenics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	8,289	8,813
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	20,235	21,445
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Genopaver, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,113	2,250
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	19,375	20,625
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Persea Bio, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,250	4,500
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Ares Trading S.A.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	50,373	53,567
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Thrive Agrobiotics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	1,529	1,621
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	16,833	17,833
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Exotech Bio, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,861	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Relieve Genetics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,213	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	9,564	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | AD Skincare, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,333	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Other
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 16,475	$ 20,339