Investments in Joint Ventures	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Investments in Joint Ventures	Investments in Joint Ventures S & I Ophthalmic In September 2013, the Company entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement ("Sun LLC Agreement") with Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. ("Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary"), an indirect subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ("Sun Pharmaceutical"), an international specialty pharmaceutical company focused on chronic diseases, to form S & I Ophthalmic, LLC ("S & I Ophthalmic"). The Sun LLC Agreement governs the affairs and the conduct of business of S & I Ophthalmic. S & I Ophthalmic leverages experience and technology from both the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical. Both the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary made an initial capital contribution of $5,000 in October 2013 for a 50% membership interest in S & I Ophthalmic. S & I Ophthalmic is governed by a board of managers ("S & I Ophthalmic Board") which has four members, two each from the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary. In cases in which the S & I Ophthalmic Board determines that additional capital contributions are necessary in order for S & I Ophthalmic to conduct business and comply with its obligations, each of the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary has committed to making additional capital contributions to S & I Ophthalmic subject to certain limits defined in the agreement. Each has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above the defined limits when and if solicited by the S & I Ophthalmic Board. In 2015, both the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary made subsequent capital contributions of $5,000. Beginning on the seventh anniversary of the effective date of the Sun LLC Agreement, and upon the second anniversary thereafter, the Company, as well as Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary, may make a cash offer to purchase all of the other party's interest in S & I Ophthalmic. Upon receipt of such an offer, the other party must either agree to tender its interests at the offered price or submit a counteroffer at a price higher than the original offer. Such offer and counteroffer may continue until one party agrees to the other's price. The Company's investment in S & I Ophthalmic was $3,236 and $6,379 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. OvaXon In December 2013, the Company and OvaScience, Inc. ("OvaScience"), a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new treatments for infertility, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement ("OvaXon LLC Agreement") to form OvaXon, LLC ("OvaXon"), a joint venture to create new applications for improving human and animal health. Both the Company and OvaScience made an initial capital contribution of $1,500 in January 2014 for a 50% membership interest in OvaXon. OvaXon is governed by the OvaXon board of managers ("OvaXon Board") which has four members, two each from the Company and OvaScience. In cases in which the OvaXon Board determines that additional capital contributions are necessary in order for OvaXon to conduct business and comply with its obligations, each of the Company and OvaScience has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions to OvaXon subject to the OvaXon LLC Agreement. The Company's investment in OvaXon was $65 and $(144) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in investments in affiliates and other accrued liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Intrexon Energy Partners In March 2014, the Company and certain investors (the "IEP Investors"), including an affiliate of Third Security, LLC ("Third Security"), entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement which governs the affairs and conduct of business of Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC ("Intrexon Energy Partners"), a joint venture formed to optimize and scale-up the Company's gas-to-liquid bioconversion platform for the production of certain fuels and lubricants. The Company also entered into an ECC with Intrexon Energy Partners providing exclusive rights to the Company's technology for the use in bioconversion, as a result of which the Company received a technology access fee of $25,000 while retaining a 50% membership interest in Intrexon Energy Partners. The IEP Investors made initial capital contributions, totaling $25,000 in the aggregate, in exchange for pro rata membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners totaling 50%. In addition, Intrexon has committed to make capital contributions of up to $25,000, and the IEP Investors, as a group and pro rata in accordance with their respective membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners, have committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $25,000, at the request of Intrexon Energy Partners' board of managers (the "Intrexon Energy Partners Board") and subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's remaining commitment was $10,240. Intrexon Energy Partners is governed by the Intrexon Energy Partners Board which has five members. Two members of the Intrexon Energy Partners Board are designated by the Company and three members are designated by a majority of the IEP Investors. The Company and the IEP Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above the initial limits when and if solicited by the Intrexon Energy Partners Board. The Company's investment in Intrexon Energy Partners was $(477) and $(1,270) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in other accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Intrexon Energy Partners II In December 2015, the Company and certain investors (the "IEPII Investors"), including Harvest, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement which governs the affairs and conduct of business of Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC ("Intrexon Energy Partners II"), a joint venture formed to utilize the Company's natural gas bioconversion platform for the production of 1,4-butanediol, an industrial chemical used to manufacture spandex, polyurethane, plastics, and polyester. The Company also entered into an ECC with Intrexon Energy Partners II which provides exclusive rights to the Company's technology for use in the field, as a result of which the Company received a technology access fee of $18,000 while retaining a 50% membership interest in Intrexon Energy Partners II. The IEPII Investors made initial capital contributions, totaling $18,000 in the aggregate, in exchange for pro rata membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners II totaling 50%. In December 2015, the owners of Intrexon Energy Partners II made a capital contribution of $4,000, half of which was paid by the Company. Intrexon has committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $10,000, and the IEPII Investors, as a group and pro rata in accordance with their respective membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners II, have committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $10,000, at the request of Intrexon Energy Partners II's board of managers (the "Intrexon Energy Partners II Board") and subject to certain limitations. Intrexon Energy Partners II is governed by the Intrexon Energy Partners II Board which has five members. One member of the Intrexon Energy Partners II Board is designated by the Company and four members are designated by a majority of the IEPII Investors. The Company and the IEPII Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above the initial limits when and if solicited by the Intrexon Energy Partners II Board. The Company's investment in Intrexon Energy Partners II was $1,414 and $2,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. EnviroFlight In February 2016, the Company entered into a series of transactions involving EnviroFlight, LLC ("Old EnviroFlight"), Darling Ingredients Inc. ("Darling") and a newly formed venture between the Company and Darling ("New EnviroFlight"). The Company determined that the series of integrated transactions to acquire substantially all of the assets of Old EnviroFlight for cash, common stock, and contingent consideration should be accounted for as a single transaction, which constituted a business, and considered New EnviroFlight to be the accounting acquirer pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations. Consideration paid to Old EnviroFlight was $4,244 in cash, 136,340 shares of the Company's common stock valued at $4,401 and contingent consideration estimated at $3,660. Contemporaneously, all the assets acquired from Old EnviroFlight, with the exception of certain developed technology, and $3,000 of cash were contributed to New EnviroFlight in exchange for a non-controlling, 50% membership interest in New EnviroFlight. The Company's contributions to New EnviroFlight included an exclusive license to the developed technology that was retained by the Company. Darling received the remaining 50% membership interest in New EnviroFlight as consideration for terminating rights previously held in the developed technology with Old EnviroFlight. New EnviroFlight was formed to generate high-nutrition, low environmental impact animal and fish feed, as well as fertilizer products. The Company and Darling as members have each agreed to make additional capital contributions of up to $5,000 to fund ongoing operations of New EnviroFlight. All of the employees of Old EnviroFlight became employees of New EnviroFlight. The Company determined that its investment in New EnviroFlight should be accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The Company recorded an estimated fair value of $5,425 for its investment in New EnviroFlight and $9,880 for the retained developed technology intangible asset. The developed technology is being amortized over a period of twenty-one years. The contingent consideration liability payable to the members of Old EnviroFlight is considered a freestanding financial instrument in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities and Equity, and is recorded at fair value each reporting period. The value of this liability was estimated at $2,081 as of December 31, 2016. New EnviroFlight met a regulatory milestone, as defined in the asset purchase agreement, and the members of Old EnviroFlight received a portion of the contingent consideration consisting of 59,337 shares of the Company's common stock valued at $1,583 in October 2016. The members of Old EnviroFlight may receive up to $4,000 of additional shares of the Company's common stock if certain commercial milestones are met prior to February 2019. The Company's investment in New EnviroFlight was $4,189 as of December 31, 2016 and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Intrexon T1D Partners In March 2016, the Company and certain investors (the "T1D Investors"), including affiliates of Third Security, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement which governs the affairs and conduct of business of Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC ("Intrexon T1D Partners"), a joint venture formed to utilize the Company's proprietary ActoBiotics platform to develop and commercialize products to treat type 1 diabetes. The Company also entered into an ECC with Intrexon T1D Partners which provides the exclusive rights to the Company's technology for use in the field, as a result of which the Company received a technology access fee of $10,000 while retaining a 50% membership interest in Intrexon T1D Partners. The T1D Investors made initial capital contributions, totaling $10,000 in the aggregate, in exchange for pro rata membership interests in Intrexon T1D Partners totaling 50%. Intrexon has committed to make capital contributions of up to $5,000, and the T1D Investors, as a group and pro rata in accordance with their respective membership interests in Intrexon T1D Partners, have committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $5,000, at the request of Intrexon T1D Partners' board of managers (the "Intrexon T1D Partners Board") and subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's remaining commitment was $3,650. Intrexon T1D Partners is governed by the Intrexon T1D Partners Board, which has five members. Two members of the Intrexon T1D Partners Board are designated by the Company and three members are designated by a majority of the T1D Investors. The Company and the T1D Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above these limits when and if solicited by the Intrexon T1D Partners Board. The Company's investment in Intrexon T1D Partners was $806 as of December 31, 2016 and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Investments in Joint Ventures

S & I Ophthalmic

In September 2013, the Company entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement ("Sun LLC Agreement") with Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. ("Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary"), an indirect subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ("Sun Pharmaceutical"), an international specialty pharmaceutical company focused on chronic diseases, to form S & I Ophthalmic, LLC ("S & I Ophthalmic"). The Sun LLC Agreement governs the affairs and the conduct of business of S & I Ophthalmic. S & I Ophthalmic leverages experience and technology from both the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical. Both the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary made an initial capital contribution of $5,000 in October 2013 for a 50% membership interest in S & I Ophthalmic. S & I Ophthalmic is governed by a board of managers ("S & I Ophthalmic Board") which has four members, two each from the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary. In cases in which the S & I Ophthalmic Board determines that additional capital contributions are necessary in order for S & I Ophthalmic to conduct business and comply with its obligations, each of the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary has committed to making additional capital contributions to S & I Ophthalmic subject to certain limits defined in the agreement. Each has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above the defined limits when and if solicited by the S & I Ophthalmic Board. In 2015, both the Company and Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary made subsequent capital contributions of $5,000.

Beginning on the seventh anniversary of the effective date of the Sun LLC Agreement, and upon the second anniversary thereafter, the Company, as well as Sun Pharmaceutical Subsidiary, may make a cash offer to purchase all of the other party's interest in S & I Ophthalmic. Upon receipt of such an offer, the other party must either agree to tender its interests at the offered price or submit a counteroffer at a price higher than the original offer. Such offer and counteroffer may continue until one party agrees to the other's price.

The Company's investment in S & I Ophthalmic was $3,236 and $6,379 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

OvaXon

In December 2013, the Company and OvaScience, Inc. ("OvaScience"), a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new treatments for infertility, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement ("OvaXon LLC Agreement") to form OvaXon, LLC ("OvaXon"), a joint venture to create new applications for improving human and animal health. Both the Company and OvaScience made an initial capital contribution of $1,500 in January 2014 for a 50% membership interest in OvaXon. OvaXon is governed by the OvaXon board of managers ("OvaXon Board") which has four members, two each from the Company and OvaScience. In cases in which the OvaXon Board determines that additional capital contributions are necessary in order for OvaXon to conduct business and comply with its obligations, each of the Company and OvaScience has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions to OvaXon subject to the OvaXon LLC Agreement.

The Company's investment in OvaXon was $65 and $(144) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in investments in affiliates and other accrued liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Intrexon Energy Partners

In March 2014, the Company and certain investors (the "IEP Investors"), including an affiliate of Third Security, LLC ("Third Security"), entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement which governs the affairs and conduct of business of Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC ("Intrexon Energy Partners"), a joint venture formed to optimize and scale-up the Company's gas-to-liquid bioconversion platform for the production of certain fuels and lubricants. The Company also entered into an ECC with Intrexon Energy Partners providing exclusive rights to the Company's technology for the use in bioconversion, as a result of which the Company received a technology access fee of $25,000 while retaining a 50% membership interest in Intrexon Energy Partners. The IEP Investors made initial capital contributions, totaling $25,000 in the aggregate, in exchange for pro rata membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners totaling 50%. In addition, Intrexon has committed to make capital contributions of up to $25,000, and the IEP Investors, as a group and pro rata in accordance with their respective membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners, have committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $25,000, at the request of Intrexon Energy Partners' board of managers (the "Intrexon Energy Partners Board") and subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's remaining commitment was $10,240. Intrexon Energy Partners is governed by the Intrexon Energy Partners Board which has five members. Two members of the Intrexon Energy Partners Board are designated by the Company and three members are designated by a majority of the IEP Investors. The Company and the IEP Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above the initial limits when and if solicited by the Intrexon Energy Partners Board.

The Company's investment in Intrexon Energy Partners was $(477) and $(1,270) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in other accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Intrexon Energy Partners II

In December 2015, the Company and certain investors (the "IEPII Investors"), including Harvest, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement which governs the affairs and conduct of business of Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC ("Intrexon Energy Partners II"), a joint venture formed to utilize the Company's natural gas bioconversion platform for the production of 1,4-butanediol, an industrial chemical used to manufacture spandex, polyurethane, plastics, and polyester. The Company also entered into an ECC with Intrexon Energy Partners II which provides exclusive rights to the Company's technology for use in the field, as a result of which the Company received a technology access fee of $18,000 while retaining a 50% membership interest in Intrexon Energy Partners II. The IEPII Investors made initial capital contributions, totaling $18,000 in the aggregate, in exchange for pro rata membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners II totaling 50%. In December 2015, the owners of Intrexon Energy Partners II made a capital contribution of $4,000, half of which was paid by the Company. Intrexon has committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $10,000, and the IEPII Investors, as a group and pro rata in accordance with their respective membership interests in Intrexon Energy Partners II, have committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $10,000, at the request of Intrexon Energy Partners II's board of managers (the "Intrexon Energy Partners II Board") and subject to certain limitations. Intrexon Energy Partners II is governed by the Intrexon Energy Partners II Board which has five members. One member of the Intrexon Energy Partners II Board is designated by the Company and four members are designated by a majority of the IEPII Investors. The Company and the IEPII Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above the initial limits when and if solicited by the Intrexon Energy Partners II Board.

The Company's investment in Intrexon Energy Partners II was $1,414 and $2,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

EnviroFlight

In February 2016, the Company entered into a series of transactions involving EnviroFlight, LLC ("Old EnviroFlight"), Darling Ingredients Inc. ("Darling") and a newly formed venture between the Company and Darling ("New EnviroFlight"). The Company determined that the series of integrated transactions to acquire substantially all of the assets of Old EnviroFlight for cash, common stock, and contingent consideration should be accounted for as a single transaction, which constituted a business, and considered New EnviroFlight to be the accounting acquirer pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations. Consideration paid to Old EnviroFlight was $4,244 in cash, 136,340 shares of the Company's common stock valued at $4,401 and contingent consideration estimated at $3,660. Contemporaneously, all the assets acquired from Old EnviroFlight, with the exception of certain developed technology, and $3,000 of cash were contributed to New EnviroFlight in exchange for a non-controlling, 50% membership interest in New EnviroFlight. The Company's contributions to New EnviroFlight included an exclusive license to the developed technology that was retained by the Company. Darling received the remaining 50% membership interest in New EnviroFlight as consideration for terminating rights previously held in the developed technology with Old EnviroFlight. New EnviroFlight was formed to generate high-nutrition, low environmental impact animal and fish feed, as well as fertilizer products. The Company and Darling as members have each agreed to make additional capital contributions of up to $5,000 to fund ongoing operations of New EnviroFlight. All of the employees of Old EnviroFlight became employees of New EnviroFlight.

The Company determined that its investment in New EnviroFlight should be accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The Company recorded an estimated fair value of $5,425 for its investment in New EnviroFlight and $9,880 for the retained developed technology intangible asset. The developed technology is being amortized over a period of twenty-one years. The contingent consideration liability payable to the members of Old EnviroFlight is considered a freestanding financial instrument in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities and Equity, and is recorded at fair value each reporting period. The value of this liability was estimated at $2,081 as of December 31, 2016. New EnviroFlight met a regulatory milestone, as defined in the asset purchase agreement, and the members of Old EnviroFlight received a portion of the contingent consideration consisting of 59,337 shares of the Company's common stock valued at $1,583 in October 2016. The members of Old EnviroFlight may receive up to $4,000 of additional shares of the Company's common stock if certain commercial milestones are met prior to February 2019.

The Company's investment in New EnviroFlight was $4,189 as of December 31, 2016 and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Intrexon T1D Partners

In March 2016, the Company and certain investors (the "T1D Investors"), including affiliates of Third Security, entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement which governs the affairs and conduct of business of Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC ("Intrexon T1D Partners"), a joint venture formed to utilize the Company's proprietary ActoBiotics platform to develop and commercialize products to treat type 1 diabetes. The Company also entered into an ECC with Intrexon T1D Partners which provides the exclusive rights to the Company's technology for use in the field, as a result of which the Company received a technology access fee of $10,000 while retaining a 50% membership interest in Intrexon T1D Partners. The T1D Investors made initial capital contributions, totaling $10,000 in the aggregate, in exchange for pro rata membership interests in Intrexon T1D Partners totaling 50%. Intrexon has committed to make capital contributions of up to $5,000, and the T1D Investors, as a group and pro rata in accordance with their respective membership interests in Intrexon T1D Partners, have committed to make additional capital contributions of up to $5,000, at the request of Intrexon T1D Partners' board of managers (the "Intrexon T1D Partners Board") and subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's remaining commitment was $3,650. Intrexon T1D Partners is governed by the Intrexon T1D Partners Board, which has five members. Two members of the Intrexon T1D Partners Board are designated by the Company and three members are designated by a majority of the T1D Investors. The Company and the T1D Investors have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions above these limits when and if solicited by the Intrexon T1D Partners Board.

The Company's investment in Intrexon T1D Partners was $806 as of December 31, 2016 and is included in investments in affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.