Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' and Total Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Total Intrexon Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		122,087,040
Balances at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 546,545	$ 0	$ 1,397,005	$ (15,554)	$ (847,820)	$ 533,631	$ 12,914
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting pronouncements	26,507			(104)	26,611	26,507
Stock-based compensation expense	20,208		20,154			20,154	54
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants (in shares)		27,033
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants	933		121			121	812
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)		407,715
Shares issued as payment for services	5,487		5,487			5,487	0
Shares and warrants issued in public offerings, net of issuance costs (in shares)		6,900,000
Shares and warrants issued in public offerings, net of issuance costs	87,990		82,374			82,374	5,616
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	0		(785)			(785)	785
Net loss	(114,238)				(111,547)	(111,547)	(2,691)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,291)			(6,190)		(6,190)	(101)
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		129,421,788
Balances at Jun. 30, 2018	567,141	$ 0	1,504,356	(21,848)	(932,756)	549,752	17,389
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		129,239,376
Balances at Mar. 31, 2018	634,122	$ 0	1,492,916	(9,737)	(867,374)	615,805	18,317
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	8,846		8,814			8,814	32
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants (in shares)		5,311
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants	609		47			47	562
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)		177,101
Shares issued as payment for services	2,546		2,546			2,546
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	0		33			33	(33)
Net loss	(66,829)				(65,382)	(65,382)	(1,447)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(12,153)			(12,111)		(12,111)	(42)
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		129,421,788
Balances at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 567,141	$ 0	1,504,356	(21,848)	(932,756)	549,752	17,389
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	160,020,466	160,020,466
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 378,722	$ 0	1,722,012	(28,612)	(1,330,545)	362,855	15,867
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	9,115		9,046			9,046	69
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants (in shares)		632,015
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants	307		57			57	250
Shares issued for accrued compensation (in shares)		150,908
Shares issued for accrued compensation	1,102		1,102			1,102
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)		1,114,035
Shares issued as payment for services	5,688		5,688			5,688
Shares and warrants issued in public offerings, net of issuance costs	6,611						6,611
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	0		(456)			(456)	456
Deconsolidation of subsidiary	(21,672)						(21,672)
Net loss	(101,067)				(99,475)	(99,475)	(1,592)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 417			406		406	11
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019	161,917,424	161,917,424
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 279,223	$ 0	1,737,449	(28,206)	(1,430,020)	279,223	0
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		160,615,416
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	334,823	$ 0	1,732,608	(28,325)	(1,391,254)	313,029	21,794
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	61		56			56	5
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants (in shares)		345,378
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants	0		0			0	0
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)		956,630
Shares issued as payment for services	4,857		4,857			4,857
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	0		(72)			(72)	72
Deconsolidation of subsidiary	(21,672)						(21,672)
Net loss	(38,931)				(38,766)	(38,766)	(165)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 85			119		119	(34)
Balances (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019	161,917,424	161,917,424
Balances at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 279,223	$ 0	$ 1,737,449	$ (28,206)	$ (1,430,020)	$ 279,223	$ 0