Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase of noncontrolling interest by parent, parent equity issued (in shares) | shares					307,074
Purchase of noncontrolling interest by parent, parent equity issued			$ 913	$ 0	$ 1,566
Biological & Popular Culture, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Purchase of noncontrolling interest by parent, percentage	0.49
Purchase of noncontrolling interest by parent, cash paid	$ 900
Purchase of noncontrolling interest by parent, parent equity issued (in shares) | shares	221,743
Purchase of noncontrolling interest by parent, parent equity issued	$ 5,082
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Parent ownership interest			58.00%
Purchase of additional equity of majority-owned subsidiary		$ 25,000