CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $)	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Shares [Member]	Treasury Shares [Member]	Contributed Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 0	$ 115,144,787	$ (6,000,000)	$ 93,972	$ (80,470,009)	$ 12,812,180	$ (122,749)	$ 41,458,181
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	0	50,321,962	(1,286,174)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares issued as part of merger with XenneX		1,802,684						1,802,684
Common shares issued as part of merger with XenneX (in shares)		448,429
Common shares retired as payment for exercise of options								0
Sale of common shares, net of fees paid and amortized and syndication costs		1,002,220						1,002,220
Sale of common shares, net of fees paid and amortized and syndication costs (in shares)		314,386
Common shares issued for rent								0
Common shares issued for consulting services								0
Exercise of options		286,552						286,552
Exercise of options (in shares)		98,541
Subsidiary shares issued as part of merger with XenneX						2,501,415		2,501,415
Stock options granted for compensation		1,560,469						1,560,469
Stock options granted for compensation in subsidiaries		24,531				274,656		299,187
Outside investment in subsidiary with BioTime common shares			(2,750,003)			2,750,003		0
Outside investment in subsidiary with BioTime common shares (in shares)			(592,533)
Sales of treasury shares			374,606					374,606
Sales of treasury shares (in shares)			78,598
Dividends on preferred shares								0
Outside investment in subsidiaries in cash						250,000		250,000
Outside investment in subsidiaries with stock						1,740		1,740
Foreign currency translation gain							63,179	63,179
NET LOSS					(21,425,703)	(3,880,157)		(25,305,860)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2012	0	119,821,243	(8,375,397)	93,972	(101,895,712)	14,709,837	(59,570)	24,294,373
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	0	51,183,318	(1,800,109)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares retired as payment for exercise of options								0
Common shares issued as part of investment in subsidiary		38,485,162	(38,485,162)
Common shares issued as part of investment in subsidiary (in shares)		9,808,812	(9,808,812)
8,000,000 Warrants issued as part of investment in subsidiary		18,276,406						18,276,406
Sale of common shares, net of fees paid and amortized and syndication costs		22,297,209						22,297,209
Sale of common shares, net of fees paid and amortized and syndication costs (in shares)		6,284,456
Warrants issued to outside investors		1,848,730						1,848,730
Common shares issued for rent		253,758						253,758
Common shares issued for rent (in shares)		73,553
Common shares issued for consulting services		173,100						173,100
Common shares issued for consulting services (in shares)		42,000
Exercise of options		46,000						46,000
Exercise of options (in shares)		20,000
Stock options granted for compensation		2,143,596						2,143,596
Stock options granted for compensation in subsidiaries		111,197				789,981		901,178
Sales of treasury shares			3,826,602					3,826,602
Sales of treasury shares (in shares)			911,206
Dividends on preferred shares								0
Outside investment in subsidiaries in cash						5,255,502		5,255,502
Outside investment in subsidiary with assets						15,732,524		15,732,524
Foreign currency translation gain							119,469	119,469
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities							3,000	3,000
NET LOSS					(43,882,835)	(9,026,291)		(52,909,126)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2013	0	203,456,401	(43,033,957)	93,972	(145,778,547)	27,461,553	62,899	42,262,321
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	0	67,412,139	(10,697,715)					56,714,424
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common shares retired as payment for exercise of options		(972,700)						(972,700)
Common shares retired as payment for exercise of options (in shares)		(367,057)
Common shares retired to pay for employee's taxes		(414,935)						(414,935)
Common shares retired to pay for employee's taxes (in shares)		(156,579)
Deferred Tax Liability Adjustment On Treasury Stock Issued And Held By Acquiree Entity		(3,611,902)						(3,611,902)
Sale of common shares, net of fees paid and amortized and syndication costs		43,826,687						43,826,687
Sale of common shares, net of fees paid and amortized and syndication costs (in shares)		14,172,785
Common shares issued for rent								0
Common shares issued for consulting services								0
Exercise of options		1,192,200						1,192,200
Exercise of options (in shares)		2,060,400
Warrants exercised		50						50
Warrants exercised (in shares)		10
Stock options granted for compensation		2,408,935						2,408,935
Stock options granted for compensation in subsidiaries						1,808,118		1,808,118
Restricted stock granted for compensation						234,005		234,005
Susidiary warrants issued to outside investors as part of sale of treasury stock						3,183,891		3,183,891
Sales of treasury shares		(11,041,738)	23,144,169					12,102,431
Sales of treasury shares (in shares)			5,803,773
Sale of preferred stock	3,500,000							3,500,000
Sale of preferred stock (in shares)	70,000
Dividends on preferred shares				(86,827)				(86,827)
Stock Issued During Period Shares Subsidiary Stock Options Exercised						7,799		7,799
Outside investment in subsidiaries in cash						938,856		938,856
Foreign currency translation gain							124,949	124,949
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities							(2,013)	(2,013)
NET LOSS					(36,411,660)	7,367,440		(43,779,100)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 3,500,000	$ 234,842,998	$ (19,889,788)	$ 7,145	$ (182,190,207)	$ 26,266,782	$ 185,835	$ 62,722,765
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	70,000	83,121,698	(4,893,942)					78,227,756