Equity	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Equity	7. Equity Preferred Shares BioTime is authorized to issue 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series as the board of directors may by resolution determine. The board of directors is authorized to fix the number of shares of any series of preferred shares and to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to or imposed on the preferred shares as a class, or upon any wholly unissued series of any preferred shares. The board of directors may, by resolution, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of preferred shares subsequent to the issue of shares of that series. As of September 30, 2014, BioTime has 70,000 outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”). The Series A Preferred Stock carries a cumulative annual 3% preferred dividend or $1.50 per share, in preference to BioTime common shares. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible, at the election of the holder, into BioTime common shares at a conversion price of $4.00 per share, a current conversion ratio of 12.5 common shares for each share of Series A Preferred Stock. In addition to the preferred dividend, the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to participate with BioTime common shares in any dividends or distributions on common shares (other than dividends and distributions of common shares resulting in an adjustment of the conversion price) as if all shares of Series A Preferred Stock were then converted into common shares. All outstanding Series A Preferred Stock will automatically be converted into common shares on March 4, 2019, or if holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a class, approve or consent to a conversion. The conversion price is subject to prorata adjustment in the event of a subdivision or reclassification of the common shares into a greater number of shares, a stock dividend paid in common shares, or a stock combination or reclassification of the common shares into a smaller number of shares. The Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote with common shares on all matters submitted to common shareholders for approval. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of common shares into which it could then be converted. The Series A Preferred Stock will also vote as a separate class on certain matters affecting those shares. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of BioTime, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive payment of any accrued but unpaid preferred dividends before any assets may be distributed to holders of common shares. After payment of the accrued dividends, the Series A Preferred Stock will participate with the common shares in the distribution of any assets available to shareholders, as if the Series A Preferred Stock was then converted into common shares. Common Shares BioTime is authorized to issue 125,000,000 common shares with no par value. As of September 30, 2014, BioTime had 73,690,302 common shares issued and 68,291,760 common shares outstanding. The difference between the number of shares issued and the number of shares outstanding reflects 5,398,542 shares held by certain BioTime subsidiaries and treated as treasury shares for financial accounting purposes. Options and Warrants BioTime has an Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to which it may issue options to purchase, or may issue as “restricted stock,” up to a total of 4,000,000 common shares. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, BioTime granted 1,410,000 and 1,575,000 options, respectively, under its 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. At September 30, 2014, a total of 3,420,068 options were outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan and BioTime’s 2002 Stock Option Plan. At September 30, 2014, BioTime had warrants outstanding entitling the holders to purchase a total of 9,195,002 BioTime common shares at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. At September 30, 2014 Asterias held 8,000,000 of the warrants that were scheduled for distribution to the holders of its Series A common stock on October 1, 2014. See Note 12. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, 2,060,400 options and no warrants were exercised. The options exercised included 1,470,400 options exercised by BioTime’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael D. West, and 475,000 options exercised by BioTime’ Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Robert W. Peabody, at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. Dr. West paid the exercise price of his options and a portion of his income tax withholding obligation through the delivery of 434,013 BioTime common shares to BioTime. Mr. Peabody paid the exercise price of his options through the delivery of 89,623 BioTime common shares to BioTime. The BioTime common shares had a market value of $2.65 per share on the date that the options were exercised.

7. Equity

Preferred Shares

BioTime is authorized to issue 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series as the board of directors may by resolution determine. The board of directors is authorized to fix the number of shares of any series of preferred shares and to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to or imposed on the preferred shares as a class, or upon any wholly unissued series of any preferred shares. The board of directors may, by resolution, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of preferred shares subsequent to the issue of shares of that series.

As of September 30, 2014, BioTime has 70,000 outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”). The Series A Preferred Stock carries a cumulative annual 3% preferred dividend or $1.50 per share, in preference to BioTime common shares. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible, at the election of the holder, into BioTime common shares at a conversion price of $4.00 per share, a current conversion ratio of 12.5 common shares for each share of Series A Preferred Stock.

In addition to the preferred dividend, the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to participate with BioTime common shares in any dividends or distributions on common shares (other than dividends and distributions of common shares resulting in an adjustment of the conversion price) as if all shares of Series A Preferred Stock were then converted into common shares.

All outstanding Series A Preferred Stock will automatically be converted into common shares on March 4, 2019, or if holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a class, approve or consent to a conversion. The conversion price is subject to prorata adjustment in the event of a subdivision or reclassification of the common shares into a greater number of shares, a stock dividend paid in common shares, or a stock combination or reclassification of the common shares into a smaller number of shares.

The Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote with common shares on all matters submitted to common shareholders for approval. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of common shares into which it could then be converted. The Series A Preferred Stock will also vote as a separate class on certain matters affecting those shares.

In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of BioTime, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive payment of any accrued but unpaid preferred dividends before any assets may be distributed to holders of common shares. After payment of the accrued dividends, the Series A Preferred Stock will participate with the common shares in the distribution of any assets available to shareholders, as if the Series A Preferred Stock was then converted into common shares.

Common Shares

BioTime is authorized to issue 125,000,000 common shares with no par value. As of September 30, 2014, BioTime had 73,690,302 common shares issued and 68,291,760 common shares outstanding. The difference between the number of shares issued and the number of shares outstanding reflects 5,398,542 shares held by certain BioTime subsidiaries and treated as treasury shares for financial accounting purposes.

Options and Warrants

BioTime has an Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to which it may issue options to purchase, or may issue as “restricted stock,” up to a total of 4,000,000 common shares. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, BioTime granted 1,410,000 and 1,575,000 options, respectively, under its 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. At September 30, 2014, a total of 3,420,068 options were outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan and BioTime’s 2002 Stock Option Plan.

At September 30, 2014, BioTime had warrants outstanding entitling the holders to purchase a total of 9,195,002 BioTime common shares at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. At September 30, 2014 Asterias held 8,000,000 of the warrants that were scheduled for distribution to the holders of its Series A common stock on October 1, 2014. See Note 12.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, 2,060,400 options and no warrants were exercised. The options exercised included 1,470,400 options exercised by BioTime’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael D. West, and 475,000 options exercised by BioTime’ Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Robert W. Peabody, at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. Dr. West paid the exercise price of his options and a portion of his income tax withholding obligation through the delivery of 434,013 BioTime common shares to BioTime. Mr. Peabody paid the exercise price of his options through the delivery of 89,623 BioTime common shares to BioTime. The BioTime common shares had a market value of $2.65 per share on the date that the options were exercised.