Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 297,291	$ 310,142
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		287,677	297,867
Upfront and Milestone Payments | ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		133,967	138,809
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Oragenics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		7,503	7,766
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		18,421	19,026
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Genopaver, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		1,908	1,977
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		17,500	18,125
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Persea Bio, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		3,875	4,000
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Ares Trading S.A.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		45,581	47,178
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		15,333	15,833
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		8,492	8,653
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Harvest start-up entities, aggregated
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	[1]	19,681	20,208
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Other
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 15,416	$ 16,292

[1] As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the balance of deferred revenue for collaborations with Harvest start-up entities includes Thrive Agrobiotics, Inc.; Exotech Bio, Inc.; Relieve Genetics, Inc.; AD Skincare, Inc.; Genten Therapeutics, Inc.; and CRS Bio, Inc.