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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
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Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Shares issued as payment for services						$ 8,284
Fair value of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$ 376,093			$ 376,093		376,093		$ 291,762
Collaboration and licensing revenues				30,590	$ 34,726	82,144	$ 66,690
Third Security, LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense for services				$ 156	142	$ 301	294
Initial term of services agreement			1 year
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)				89,326		254,496
Shares issued as payment for services				$ 2,132		$ 6,542
Third Security, LLC \| Common Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense for services			$ 800
Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payments to acquire convertible notes and warrants	$ 2,604
Oragenics, Inc.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock purchased from collaborative partners, shares		2,261,419
Price per share of common shares (usd per share)		$ 0.52
Oragenics, Inc. \| Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Maximum percentage of shares of future securities offerings of collaborative partners to which the entity is entitled to purchase	30.00%			30.00%		30.00%
Related Parties, Aggregated
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Collaboration and licensing revenues				$ 26,688	31,740	$ 70,299	59,775
Harvest Intrexon Enterprise Fund I, LP \| Other nonoperating income
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fees revenue				613	$ 697	1,871	$ 697
Convertible Note and Warrants \| Other Assets \| Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Fair value of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$ 1,990			$ 1,990		$ 1,990