CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
REVENUES:
License fees	$ 263,757	$ 292,904	$ 292,832
Royalties from product sales	756,881	945,461	1,079,951
Grant income	2,767,181	2,336,325	546,795
Sale of research products	566,943	105,610	5,590
Total revenues	4,354,762	3,680,300	1,925,168
EXPENSES:
Research and development	(13,699,691)	(8,191,314)	(3,181,729)
General and administrative	(9,341,502)	(5,341,119)	(2,263,705)
Total expenses	(23,041,193)	(13,532,433)	(5,445,434)
Loss from operations	(18,686,431)	(9,852,133)	(3,520,266)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
Interest income/(expense), net	29,727	(124,300)	(1,653,755)
Gain/(loss) on sale of fixed assets	(6,246)	0	0
Modification cost of warrants	0	(2,142,201)	0
Other income/(expense), net	219,067	(68,573)	30,112
Total other income/(expenses), net	242,548	(2,335,074)	(1,623,643)
NET LOSS	(18,443,883)	(12,187,207)	(5,143,909)
Net loss/(income) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	1,928,383	1,002,589	(590)
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO BIOTIME, INC.	(16,515,500)	(11,184,618)	(5,144,499)
Foreign currency translation (loss)/gain	(1,020,087)	897,338	0
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	$ (17,535,587)	$ (10,287,280)	$ (5,144,499)
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.18)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: BASIC AND DILUTED (in shares)	47,486,941	40,266,311	29,295,608