Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 310,142	$ 197,729
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	297,867	181,331
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	138,809	30,338
Oragenics, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	7,766	8,813
Fibrocell Science, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	19,026	21,445
Genopaver, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	1,977	2,250
Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	18,125	20,625
Persea Bio, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,000	4,500
Ares Trading S.A. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	47,178	53,567
Thrive Agrobiotics, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	1,436	1,621
Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	15,833	17,833
Exotech Bio, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,583	0
Relieve Genetics, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	3,972	0
Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	8,653	0
AD Skincare, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,092	0
Genten Therapeutics, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	4,176	0
CRS Bio, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	1,949	0
Other | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 16,292	$ 20,339