Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 322,397	$ 197,729
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	309,126	181,331
Upfront and Milestone Payments | ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	143,651	30,338
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Oragenics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	8,027	8,813
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	19,631	21,445
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Genopaver, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,045	2,250
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	18,750	20,625
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Persea Bio, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,125	4,500
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Ares Trading S.A.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	48,776	53,567
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Thrive Agrobiotics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	1,483	1,621
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners II
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	16,333	17,833
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Exotech Bio, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,722	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Relieve Genetics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,093	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	9,383	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | AD Skincare, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,213	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Genten Therapeutics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,523	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | CRS Bio, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,111	0
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Other
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 17,260	$ 20,339