Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Research and development commitments with third parties not incurred	$ 10,631				$ 4,138				$ 10,631	$ 4,138
Maturity period of highly liquid investment									3 months
Cash equivalent investments in highly liquid money market accounts	43,808				112,776				$ 43,808	112,776
Fair value of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	335,307				291,762				335,307	291,762
Unrealized and realized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of equity securities and preferred stock									(58,894)	66,876	$ (10,469)
Maximum risk of loss related to the identified VIEs	159,115				3,598				$ 159,115	3,598
Number of segments | segment									1
Property, plant and equipment, net	64,672				42,739				$ 64,672	42,739
Revenues	$ 46,002	$ 48,985	$ 52,501	$ 43,438	$ 41,498	$ 53,367	$ 44,891	$ 33,849	$ 190,926	$ 173,605	71,930
Oragenics, Inc.
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Company's ownership percentage	29.50%				30.70%				29.50%	30.70%
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Realized investment gain										$ 81,401
Equity securities
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair value of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$ 23,522				$ 83,653				$ 23,522	83,653
Equity securities | Oragenics, Inc.
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fair value of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	7,244				16,601				7,244	16,601
Unrealized and realized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of equity securities and preferred stock									(10,523)	4,863	(14,969)
Equity securities | ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrealized and realized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of equity securities and preferred stock											11,965
Foreign Countries
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 13,265				$ 3,877				13,265	3,877
Revenues									$ 11,969	$ 5,918	$ 2,166
Minimum
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expected useful life of intangible asset									2 years
Maximum
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expected useful life of intangible asset									21 years
Intrexon Stock Option Plans
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expected dividend yield									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%