Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 236,397	$ 310,142
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		230,531	297,867
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		90,496	138,809
Oragenics, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		6,719	7,766
Fibrocell Science, Inc. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		16,607	19,026
Genopaver, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		1,704	1,977
Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		15,625	18,125
Persea Bio, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		3,500	4,000
Ares Trading S.A. | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		40,789	47,178
Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		13,833	15,833
Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		8,435	8,653
Harvest Start-Up Entities | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	[1]	18,400	20,208
Other | Upfront and Milestone Payments
Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 14,423	$ 16,292

[1] As of December 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.