Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' and Total Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Precigen Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 569,248	$ 560,237	$ 0	$ 1,325,780	$ (36,202)	$ (729,341)	$ 9,011
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016			118,688,770
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	41,576	41,525		41,525			51
Exercises of stock options and warrants	980	952		952			28
Exercises of stock options and warrants, shares			149,429
Shares issued as payment for services	11,118	11,118		11,118			0
Shares issued as payment for services, shares			654,456
Shares and warrants issued in public or private offerings, net of issuance costs	13,686	13,686		13,686			0
Shares and warrants issued in public or private offerings, net of issuance costs, shares			1,207,980
Shares and warrants issued in business combination	16,997	16,997		16,997			0
Shares and warrants issued in business combinations, shares			684,240
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(913)	5,082		5,082			(5,995)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interest, shares			221,743
Shares issued as payment of deferred consideration	0	0		0			0
Shares issued as payment of deferred consideration, shares			480,422
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	(13)	2,789		2,789			(2,802)
Noncash dividend	0	(22,385)		(22,385)			22,385
Net loss	(126,820)	(117,018)				(117,018)	(9,802)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	20,686	20,648			20,648		38
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	546,545	533,631	$ 0	1,397,005	(15,554)	(847,820)	12,914
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017			122,087,040
Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	36,296	36,174		36,174			122
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants	2,336	297		297			2,039
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants, shares			70,159
Shares issued as payment for services	10,695	10,695		10,695			0
Shares issued as payment for services, shares			909,980
Shares and warrants issued in public or private offerings, net of issuance costs	87,990	82,374		82,374			5,616
Shares and warrants issued in public or private offerings, net of issuance costs, shares			6,900,000
Equity component of convertible debt, net of issuance costs and deferred taxes	36,868	36,868		36,868			0
Shares issued pursuant to share lending agreement	0	0		0			0
Shares issued pursuant to share lending agreement, shares			7,479,431
Shares and warrants issued in business combination	0
Shares issued for reacquired in-process research and development	159,323	159,323		159,323			0
Shares issued for reacquired in-process research and development, shares			22,573,856
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	0	(724)		(724)			724
Net loss	(514,706)	(509,336)				(509,336)	(5,370)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(13,132)	(12,954)			(12,954)		(178)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 378,722	362,855	$ 0	1,722,012	(28,612)	(1,330,545)	15,867
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	160,020,466		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			0
Shares issued as payment for services, shares			2,075,362
Shares and warrants issued in public or private offerings, net of issuance costs	6,611	0		0			6,611
Shares and warrants issued in public or private offerings, net of issuance costs, shares			0
Shares and warrants issued in business combination	0
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)
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		163,274,880