CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss) attributable to BioTime, Inc.	$ 33,572	$ (46,991)	$ (36,412)
Net loss allocable to non-controlling interest	(14,951)	(11,143)	(7,367)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to BioTime, Inc. to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain on deconsolidation of Asterias (Note 3)	(49,048)	0	0
Unrealized gain on equity method investment in Asterias at fair value	(34,361)	0	0
BioTime's share of losses and impairment of Ascendance	4,671	35	0
Gain on sale of assets	0	(3,694)	0
Depreciation expense, including amortization of leasehold improvements	1,180	1,078	1,051
Amortization of intangible assets	3,577	5,256	7,360
Amortization of deferred grant income	1,496	0	0
Amortization of deferred consulting fees	0	0	19
Amortization of deferred license fees	113	114	110
Amortization of deferred license, royalty and subscription revenues	(308)	102	(1)
Amortization of prepaid rent in common stock	0	63	85
Stock-based compensation	7,951	11,050	4,455
Subsidiary shareholder expense for subsidiary warrants	3,125	0	0
Subsidiary common stock issued in lieu of cash for services	0	486	0
Amortization of discount on related party convertible debt	448	245	56
Bad debt expense	950	0	(16)
Deferred income tax benefit	0	(4,516)	(7,376)
Other	0	66	9
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(39)	(248)	(74)
Grant receivable	226	168	11
Inventory	0	(75)	(87)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,115)	(1,458)	(86)
Other long-term assets	0	(100)	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	12	1,673	(470)
Accrued interest on related party convertible debt	0	19	4
Other long-term liabilities	(56)	(20)	(160)
Deferred grant income	0	2,513	0
Deferred rent liabilities	99	61	61
Deferred revenues	132	772	(26)
Net cash used in operating activities	(42,326)	(44,544)	(38,854)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Deconsolidation of cash and cash equivalents of Asterias	(8,376)	0	0
Purchase of property and equipment	(2,248)	(1,241)	(483)
Payments on construction in progress	(278)	(4,093)	(219)
Purchase of foreign available-for-sale securities	0	(748)	0
Payment for Ascendance equity method investment	0	(500)	0
Proceeds from the sale of equipment	0	0	9
Security deposit paid, net	13	(859)	(315)
Net cash used in investing activities	(10,889)	(7,441)	(1,008)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	0	621	219
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock	0	0	3,500
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	20,125	34,123	44,150
Fees paid on sale of common shares	(1,515)	0	(323)
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	0	20	0
Proceeds from exercise of subsidiary stock options	2,151	33	8
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares	0	1,347	0
Proceeds from exercise of subsidiary warrants	0	11,700	0
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares and issuance of subsidiary warrants	0	0	15,156
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common shares	171	13,639	468
Fees paid on sale of subsidiary common shares	(106)	(693)	0
Reimbursement from landlord on construction in progress	567	3,789	0
Proceeds from issuance of related party convertible debt	1,757	255	471
Proceeds for the sale of common shares and warrants of subsidiary	10,550	0	0
Fees paid on sale of common shares and warrants of subsidiary	(773)	0	0
Repayment of capital lease obligation	(145)	(59)	(26)
Net cash provided by financing activities	32,782	64,775	63,623
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	292	(48)	230
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(20,141)	12,742	23,991
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
At beginning of year	42,229	29,487	5,496
At end of year	22,088	42,229	29,487
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during year for interest	94	119	91
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES :
Employee options exercised with common stock		0	973
Capital expenditure funded by capital lease borrowing	626	34	115
Construction in progress in accounts payable and accrued expenses		524	186
Landlord receivable		(567)	(378)
Lease liability	1,385	4,400	378
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	0	3,500	0
Promissory notes in exchange of preferred share dividends	0	363	0
Common stock issued in lieu of cash for bonus and services	240	0	0
Equity method investment in Ascendance in exchange for assets	$ 0	$ 4,706	$ 0