Stock Option Plans, Subsidiaries' Stock Options Plans (Details) - $ / shares shares in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
OrthoCyte Corporation [Member]
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward]
Beginning of the period (in shares)		1,371	1,355	[1]
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		1,329	16
End of the period (in shares)		2,700	1,371		1,355	[1]
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares)		2,629	2,645	[1]
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		(1,329)	(16)
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)		1,300	2,629		2,645	[1]
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 0.08	$ 0.08	[1]
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share)		0.10	0.07
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 0.06	$ 0.08		$ 0.08	[1]
ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. [Member]
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward]
Beginning of the period (in shares)		2,721	2,710	[1]
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		29	11
End of the period (in shares)		2,750	2,721		2,710	[1]
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares)		1,279	1,290	[1]
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		(29)	(11)
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)		1,250	1,279		1,290	[1]
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 2.05	$ 2.05	[1]
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share)		2.05	2.05
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 2.05	$ 2.05		$ 2.05	[1]
LifeMap Sciences, Inc. [Member]
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward]
Beginning of the period (in shares)		547	471		413
Granted (in shares)		(20)	(131)
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		219	207		58
End of the period (in shares)		746	547		471
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares)		1,795	1,871		1,929
Granted (in shares)		20	131
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		(219)	(207)		(58)
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)		1,596	1,795		1,871
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 1.47	$ 1.48		$ 1.49
Granted (in dollars per share)		2.25	1.92
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share)		1.72	1.79		1.48
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 1.44	$ 1.47		$ 1.48
LifeMap Solutions, Inc [Member]
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward]
Option pool added upon incorporation (in shares)					19
Beginning of the period (in shares)		5	6
Granted (in shares)		(2)	(2)		(13)
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		4	1
End of the period (in shares)		7	5		6
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares)		14	13
Granted (in shares)		2	2		13
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares)		(4)	(1)
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)		12	14		13
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 500.00	$ 500.00
Granted (in dollars per share)		500.00	500.00		$ 500.00
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share)		500.00	500.00
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 500.00	$ 500.00		$ 500.00
BioTime Asia, Limited [Member]
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward]
Stock option available for future grants (in shares)		1,300
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)		300
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01
Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. [Member]
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward]
Beginning of the period (in shares)	[2]	2
Granted (in shares)		(69)
End of the period (in shares)		44	2	[2]
Increase to option under 2016 share option plan (in shares)		111
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares)	[2]	12
Granted (in shares)		69
Increase to option under 2016 Share Option Plan (in shares)		0
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares)		81	12	[2]
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	[2],[3]	$ 23.93
Granted (in dollars per share)	[3]	40.00
Increase to option under 2016 share option plan (in dollars per share)	[3]	0
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share)	[3]	$ 38.00	$ 23.93	[2]

[1] There was no grant activity during 2014.

[2] There was no grant activity during 2014 and 2015.

[3] Cell Cure Neurosciences Share Option Plan US dollar exercise price shown is approximated based on the conversion rate between the US dollar and the New Israeli Shekel, NIS, at the time of grant. The exercise price is denominated in NIS.