CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
REVENUES:
License fees	$ 337,633	$ 54,900	$ 549,521	$ 201,589
Royalties from product sales	133,946	176,027	407,803	569,257
Grant income	441,630	746,426	1,518,086	1,605,612
Sale of research products	90,342	184,217	217,380	405,981
Total revenues	1,003,551	1,161,570	2,692,790	2,782,439
Cost of sales	(169,734)	(18,516)	(273,916)	(58,808)
Total revenues, net	833,817	1,143,054	2,418,874	2,723,631
EXPENSES:
Research and development	(4,545,470)	(3,488,121)	(13,323,410)	(9,756,443)
General and administrative	(2,234,905)	(1,887,298)	(7,037,807)	(6,193,383)
Total expenses	(6,780,375)	(5,375,419)	(20,361,217)	(15,949,826)
Loss from operations	(5,946,558)	(4,232,365)	(17,942,343)	(13,226,195)
OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSES):
Interest income/(expense), net	5,624	2,911	17,321	19,705
Gain/(loss) on sale of fixed assets	(1,451)	(6,246)	(4,997)	(6,246)
Other income/(expense), net	18,766	(919)	(223,899)	223,944
Total other income/(expenses), net	22,939	(4,254)	(211,575)	237,403
NET LOSS	(5,923,619)	(4,236,619)	(18,153,918)	(12,988,792)
Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	965,605	498,993	2,763,169	1,833,943
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO BIOTIME, INC.	(4,958,014)	(3,737,626)	(15,390,749)	(11,154,849)
Foreign currency translation gain/(loss)	(15,777)	696,661	(74,635)	(901,881)
COMPREHENSIVE NET LOSS	$ (4,973,791)	$ (3,040,965)	$ (15,465,384)	$ (12,056,730)
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ (0.1)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.23)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: BASIC AND DILUTED (in shares)	49,291,177	48,896,973	49,196,804	48,681,879