Equity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Preferred Shares [Abstract]
Preferred shares, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred shares, issued and outstanding (in shares)	0	0
OncoCyte, OrthoCyte, ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure Neurosciences, LifeMap and BioTime Asia [Member]
Options Available for Grant [Rollforward]
Beginning of the period (in shares)	11,218,060	7,703,060
Added upon adoption of option plan (in shares)		8,000,000
Reverse stock split and change in plan (in shares)	(3,697,014)
Granted (in shares)	(1,479,490)	(4,685,000)
Forfeited/Exercised (in shares)	0	200,000
End of the period (in shares)	6,041,556	11,218,060
Number of Options Outstanding [Rollforward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares)	8,797,640	4,312,640
Added upon adoption of option plan (in shares)		0
Reverse stock split and change in plan (in shares)	(2,460,717)
Granted (in shares)	1,479,490	4,685,000
Forfeited/Exercised (in shares)	0	(200,000)
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)	7,816,413	8,797,640
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Rollforward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.74
Added upon adoption of option plan (in dollars per shares)		$ 0
Reverse stock split and change in plan (in dollars per share)	$ 0
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 0.36
Forfeited/Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.05
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.56
Warrant [Member]
Numbers of Warrants [Roll Forward]
Warrants Outstanding Beginning Balance (in shares)	636,613	649,000	12,264,345
Granted (in shares)		206,613	650,000
Exercised (in shares)	(80,000)	(219,000)
Warrants Outstanding Ending Balance (in shares)	556,613	636,613	649,000
Per share exercise price [Abstract]
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)			$ 2.00
Granted (in dollars per share)		$ 10.00
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 3.00
Outstanding Ending Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 10.00
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 9.13	$ 6.42	$ 1.99
Granted (in dollars per share)		$ 10.00	$ 6.77
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 3.00	$ 1.94
Outstanding Ending Balance(in dollars per share)	$ 10.00	$ 9.13	$ 6.42
Weighted average remaining contractual life	1 year 3 months 26 days	1 year 8 months 5 days	2 years 5 months 1 day
Warrant [Member] | Exercise Prices 1.818 - 2.00 [Member]
Numbers of Warrants [Roll Forward]
Exercised (in shares)			(12,240,357)
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 1.87
Warrant [Member] | Exercise Prices 2.00 [Member]
Numbers of Warrants [Roll Forward]
Exercised (in shares)			(24,988)
Per share exercise price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 2.00
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 2.00
Warrant [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Per share exercise price [Abstract]
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)		$ 0.68
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 3.00
Exercised (in dollars per share)		$ 0.68
Outstanding Ending Balance (in dollars per share)		$ 3.00	$ 0.68
Warrant [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Exercise Prices 1.818 - 2.00 [Member]
Per share exercise price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 1.818
Warrant [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Per share exercise price [Abstract]
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)		$ 10.00
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 10.00
Exercised (in dollars per share)		$ 3.00
Outstanding Ending Balance (in dollars per share)		$ 10.00	$ 10.00
Warrant [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Exercise Prices 1.818 - 2.00 [Member]
Per share exercise price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 2.00