Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues	$ 103,873	$ 103,178	$ 90,722
Operating Expenses
Impairment of goodwill	0	9,635	87,862
Impairment of other noncurrent assets	543	13,326	32,627
Other Expense, Net
Unrealized and realized appreciation in fair value of equity securities and preferred stock, net	0	(106)	7,833
Equity in net loss of affiliates	(3)	(1,176)	(6,730)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(96,925)	(103,855)	(171,264)
Income tax benefit	160	82	930
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit	4,599	(66,748)	(153,582)
Net loss	(92,166)	(170,521)	(323,916)
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0	1,592
Net loss attributable to Precigen	(92,166)	(170,521)	(322,324)
Amounts Attributable to Precigen
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Precigen	(96,765)	(103,773)	(168,742)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Precigen	4,599	(66,748)	(153,582)
Net loss attributable to Precigen	$ (92,166)	$ (170,521)	$ (322,324)
Net Loss per Share
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Precigen per share, basic (in usd per share)	$ (0.49)	$ (0.62)	$ (1.09)
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Precigen per share, diluted (in usd per share)	(0.49)	(0.62)	(1.09)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Precigen per share, basic (in usd per share)	0.02	(0.40)	(1.00)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Precigen per share, diluted (in usd per share)	0.02	(0.40)	(1.00)
Net loss attributable to Precigen per share, diluted (in usd per share)	(0.47)	(1.02)	(2.09)
Net loss attributable to Precigen per share, basic (in usd per share)	$ (0.47)	$ (1.02)	$ (2.09)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	197,759,900	167,065,539	154,138,774
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	197,759,900	167,065,539	154,138,774
Collaboration and licensing agreements
Revenues
Revenues	$ 506	$ 21,208	$ 14,059
Continuing Operations
Revenues
Revenues	103,873	103,178	90,722
Operating Expenses
Research and development	50,141	41,644	66,666
Selling, general and administrative	74,122	91,704	98,634
Impairment of goodwill	0	0	29,820
Impairment of other noncurrent assets	543	920	990
Total operating expenses	183,191	189,781	257,511
Operating loss	(79,318)	(86,603)	(166,789)
Other Expense, Net
Unrealized and realized appreciation in fair value of equity securities and preferred stock, net	0	0	8,291
Interest expense	(18,891)	(18,400)	(17,666)
Interest and dividend income	1,617	2,451	3,871
Other income (expense), net	(330)	(165)	3,445
Total other expense, net	(17,604)	(16,114)	(2,059)
Equity in net loss of affiliates	(3)	(1,138)	(2,416)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(96,925)	(103,855)	(171,264)
Income tax benefit	160	82	930
Loss from continuing operations	(96,765)	(103,773)	(170,334)
Continuing Operations | Collaboration and licensing agreements
Revenues
Revenues	506	21,208	14,059
Continuing Operations | Product revenues
Revenues
Revenues	27,295	24,349	23,780
Operating Expenses
Cost of product and services	24,864	28,550	31,930
Continuing Operations | Service revenues
Revenues
Revenues	75,570	56,899	51,803
Operating Expenses
Cost of product and services	33,521	26,963	29,471
Continuing Operations | Other revenues
Revenues
Revenues	$ 502	$ 722	$ 1,080