Mergers and Acquisitions - Condensed Pro forma Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 49,158	$ 154,185	$ 145,413
Loss before income taxes	(31,954)	(102,305)	(153,868)
Net loss	(31,536)	(100,330)	(150,389)
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests	1,029	3,123	2,887
Net loss attributable to Intrexon	$ (30,507)	$ (97,207)	$ (147,502)

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xon_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaIncomeLossfromContinuingOperationsbeforeIncomeTaxesNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	xon_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xon_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaNetIncomeLossAttributabletoNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	xon_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest, as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xon_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaNetIncomeLossIncludingPortionAttributabletoNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	xon_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration