EXHIBIT 5

                                   LAW OFFICES
               LIPPENBERGER, THOMPSON, WELCH, SOROKO & GILBERT LLP
                              250 MONTGOMERY STREET
                                    SUITE 500
                          SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-3401
                                 (415) 421-5300
                                                                      FACSIMILE
                                                                  (415) 421-0225

                                                  August 15, 2000

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20549

         Re:      BioTime, Inc.
                  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies/Gentlemen:

         We are counsel to BioTime,  Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the
offer and sale of up to 622,548 Common Shares (the  "Shares")  issuable upon the
exercise of certain warrants (the "Warrants"). The Warrants and Shares are being
registered  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended,  pursuant  to a
Registration Statement on Form S-3.

         We are of the opinion that the Warrants are legally and validly  issued
and outstanding and constitute  binding  obligations of BioTime,  enforceable in
accordance with their terms. We are also of the opinion that when the Shares are
issued and sold upon the exercise of the Warrants,  in accordance with the terms
and  provisions of the Warrants,  the Shares will be legally and validly  issued
and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.

         The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of California
and the Federal laws of the United States of America.

         We  hereby  consent  to  the  use of our  opinion  in the  Registration
Statement.

                            Very truly yours,

                            Lippenberger, Thompson, Welch, Soroko & Gilbert LLP