Condensed 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
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			160,020,466
Balances at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 378,722	$ 362,855	$ 0	$ 1,722,012	$ (28,612)	$ (1,330,545)	$ 15,867
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	9,054	8,990		8,990			64
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants (in shares)			286,637
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			0
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)			157,405
Shares issued as payment for services	831	831		831
Shares and warrants issued in public and private offerings, net of issuance costs	6,611	0					6,611
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests	0	(384)		(384)			384
Net loss	(62,136)	(60,709)				(60,709)	(1,427)
Release of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments to loss from discontinued operations	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	332	287			287		45
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			160,615,416
Balances at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 334,823	313,029	$ 0	1,732,608	(28,325)	(1,391,254)	$ 21,794
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	163,274,880		163,274,880
Balances at Dec. 31, 2019		71,711	$ 0	1,752,048	(27,468)	(1,652,869)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense		4,372		4,372
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants (in shares)			668,786
Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock units and for exercises of stock options and warrants		0		0
Shares issued for accrued compensation (in shares)			347,989
Shares issued for accrued compensation	$ 5,100			5,100
Shares issued as payment for services (in shares)			392,483
Shares issued as payment for services		930		930
Shares issued in private placement (in shares)			5,972,696
Shares and warrants issued in public and private offerings, net of issuance costs		35,000		35,000
Net loss	(55,998)	(55,998)				(55,998)
Release of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments to loss from discontinued operations	$ 26,957	26,957			26,957
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(843)			(843)
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020	170,656,834		170,656,834
Balances at Mar. 31, 2020		$ 87,229	$ 0	$ 1,797,450	$ (1,354)	$ (1,708,867)