Share-Based Payments - Intrexon Stock Option Plans - Schedule of Stock Option Activity (Details) - Intrexon Stock Option Plans - $ / shares		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Number of Shares
Balances at beginning of period (in shares)		11,043,528	8,323,544	2,840,648
Granted (in shares)		4,644,860	5,051,500	7,655,050
Adjustment due to dividend (in shares)			312,795
Exercised (in shares)		(1,210,840)	(1,029,291)	(315,964)
Forfeited (in shares)		(2,760,809)	(1,610,335)	(1,855,578)
Expired (in shares)		(76,356)	(4,685)	(612)
Balances at period end (in shares)		11,640,383	11,043,528	8,323,544	2,840,648
Weighted Average Exercise Price (usd per share)
Balances at beginning of period (in usd per share)		$ 32.66	$ 22.59	$ 8.27
Granted (in usd per share)		29.39	45.82	27.51
Adjustment due to dividend (in usd per share)			25.40
Exercised (in usd per share)		(15.83)	(15.16)	(4.80)
Forfeited (in usd per share)		(40.34)	(26.75)	(24.00)
Expired (in usd per share)		(37.81)	(28.29)	(7.12)
Balances at period end (in usd per share)		$ 31.25	32.66	$ 22.59	$ 8.27
Additional Disclosures
Exercisable at period end (in shares)		3,418,035
Vested and expected to vest at period end (in shares)	[1]	10,019,307
Options exercisable, weighted average exercise price (in usd per share)		$ 28.09	$ 18.31
Vested and expected to vest, weighted average exercise price (in usd per share)	[1]	$ 31.04
Balances at period end, weighted average remaining contractual period		8 years 2 months 15 days	8 years 5 months 27 days	8 years 7 months 21 days	7 years 9 months
Exercisable at period end, weighted average remaining contractual period		6 years 10 months 17 days
Vested and expected to vest at period end, weighted average remaining contractual period	[1]	8 years 1 month

[1] The number of stock options expected to vest takes into account an estimate of expected forfeitures.