Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Parent ownership interest	70.00%
Biological & Popular Culture, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Parent ownership interest	51.00%
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Conversion of the principal balance of an outstanding promissory note receivable and related accrued interest	$ 10,396

Represents a (noncash) issuance of additional equity interests to the parent by a subsidiary during the period, thereby effecting a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The additional equity interest represented by this element increases the parent's controlling interest in the subsidiary.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4M
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897068&loc=SL4591554-111686

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64809438&loc=SL4573702-111684

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration