Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 276,287	$ 310,142
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		269,649	297,867
Upfront and Milestone Payments | ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		124,282	138,809
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Oragenics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		6,980	7,766
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		17,212	19,026
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Genopaver, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		1,772	1,977
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		16,250	18,125
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Persea Bio, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		3,625	4,000
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Ares Trading S.A.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		42,387	47,178
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		14,333	15,833
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		8,628	8,653
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Harvest start-up entities
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	[1]	18,953	20,208
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Other
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 15,227	$ 16,292

[1] As of September 30, 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.