Collaboration and Licensing Revenue - Summary of Deferred Revenue by Collaborator (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 263,390	$ 236,397
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		5 years 9 months 18 days
Oragenics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years 2 months 12 days
Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years 7 months 6 days
Genopaver, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years
Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years
Persea Bio, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years 9 months 18 days
Ares Trading S.A.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years 1 month 6 days
Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		6 years 8 months 12 days
Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		7 years
Harvest start-up entities
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)	[1]	7 years 1 month 6 days
Other
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Average remaining performance period (in years)		3 years 8 months 12 days
Upfront and Milestone Payments
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 257,296	230,531
Upfront and Milestone Payments | ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		86,365	90,496
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Oragenics, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		6,456	6,719
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		16,002	16,607
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Genopaver, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		1,635	1,704
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		15,000	15,625
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Persea Bio, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		3,375	3,500
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Ares Trading S.A.
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		78,384	40,789
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon Energy Partners II, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		13,333	13,833
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		8,334	8,435
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Harvest start-up entities
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	[1]	17,918	18,400
Upfront and Milestone Payments | Other
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue		$ 10,494	$ 14,423

[1] As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, 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.