Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' and Total Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Precigen Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 378,722	$ 362,855	$ 0	$ 1,722,012	$ (28,612)	$ (1,330,545)	$ 15,867
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018			160,020,466
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	18,950	18,881		18,881			69
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants	313	63		63			250
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants, shares			1,028,144
Shares issued for accrued compensation	1,102	1,102		1,102
Shares issued for accrued compensation, shares			150,908
Shares issued as payment for services	10,446	10,446		10,446
Shares issued as payment for services, shares			2,075,362
Shares issued in public and private 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	(323,916)	(322,324)				(322,324)	(1,592)
Release of cumulative translation adjustment to loss from discontinued operations	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,155	1,144			1,144		11
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	71,711	71,711	$ 0	1,752,048	(27,468)	(1,652,869)	$ 0
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019			163,274,880
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense		18,366		18,366
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options		117		117
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options, shares			877,249
Shares issued for accrued compensation		5,100		5,100
Shares issued for accrued compensation, shares			1,955,405
Shares issued as payment for services		1,006		1,006
Shares issued as payment for services, shares			413,911
Shares issued in public and private offerings, net of issuance costs		35,000		35,000
Shares issued in public and private offerings, net of issuance costs (in shares)			5,972,696
Shares issued upon conversion of long-term debt		56,827		56,827
Shares issued upon conversion of long-term debt, shares			13,051,802
Shares issued in conjunction with settlement agreement		18,103		18,103
Stock issued in conjunction with settlement agreement, shares			2,117,264
Net loss	(170,521)	(170,521)				(170,521)
Release of cumulative translation adjustment to loss from discontinued operations	$ 26,957	26,957			26,957
Other comprehensive income (loss)		4,508			4,508
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020		67,174	$ 0	1,886,567	3,997	(1,823,390)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	187,663,207		187,663,207
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense		13,904		13,904
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options		608		608
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options, shares			1,751,896
Shares issued as payment for services		577		577
Shares issued as payment for services, shares			74,771
Shares issued in public and private offerings, net of issuance costs		121,045		121,045
Shares issued in public and private offerings, net of issuance costs (in shares)			17,250,000
Net loss	$ (92,166)	(92,166)				(92,166)
Release of cumulative translation adjustment to loss from discontinued operations	$ 0
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(3,794)			(3,794)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2021		$ 107,348	$ 0	$ 2,022,701	$ 203	$ (1,915,556)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	206,739,874		206,739,874