Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Federal corporate income tax rate	34.00%	34.00%	34.00%
Federal and state research and development tax credits	$ 10,396	$ 9,113
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(729,341)	$ (542,729)
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Annual usage limit of operating loss carryforwards	$ 900
Expiration date of Federal income tax loss carryforwards	2018
Ownership percentage in AquaBounty (more than)				50.00%
Foreign Subsidiaries
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	$ (27,885)
Domestic
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating losses subject to annual limits	15,100
Annual usage limit of operating loss carryforwards	1,500
Net operating losses inherited via acquisition	18,600
Operating loss carryforwards	252,971
Federal and state research and development tax credits	$ 7,514
Expiration date of Federal income tax loss carryforwards	2022
Domestic | AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 22,215
Domestic | Biological & Popular Culture, Inc.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	1,402
Domestic | Share Based Compensation
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	44,929
Foreign
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	119,155
Foreign | AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	12,925
Tax credit	$ 2,428