CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income attributable to BioTime, Inc.	$ 51,958	$ 38,647
Net loss allocable to noncontrolling interests	(3,175)	(12,286)
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to BioTime, Inc. to net cash used in operating activities:
Deferred income tax expense	4,772	0
Depreciation expense, including amortization of leasehold improvements	670	996
Amortization of intangible assets	1,766	2,935
Amortization of deferred license fees	(166)	1,191
Stock-based compensation	2,903	6,303
Subsidiary shareholder expense for subsidiary warrants	531	3,125
Amortization of discount on related party convertible debt	640	264
Foreign currency remeasurement (gain) or loss and other	(1,511)	802
Gain on sale of assets	(1,754)	0
Loss on extinguishment of related party convertible debt	2,799	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Grants and other accounts receivable, net	(905)	(955)
Deferred revenue and other liabilities	(279)	509
Receivables from affiliates, net of payables	760	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	93	(1,013)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,276	399
Net cash used in operating activities	(24,842)	(33,474)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of equipment and other assets	(930)	(1,860)
Payments on construction in progress	0	(278)
Proceeds from sales of assets and other	186	34
Cash used in investing activities	(9,642)	(10,480)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of common shares	20,125	20,125
Fees paid on sale of common shares	(1,623)	(1,515)
Proceeds from sale of common shares of subsidiary	9,968	0
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	29	2,015
Reimbursement from landlord on construction in progress	198	451
Shares retired to pay for employees' taxes	(38)	0
Repayment of capital lease obligation	(31)	(104)
Proceeds from sale of common shares and warrants of subsidiary	0	10,721
Fees paid on sale of common shares and warrants of subsidiary	0	(904)
Proceeds from issuance of related party convertible debt	384	1,150
Net cash provided by financing activities	29,012	31,939
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	46	237
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(5,426)	(11,778)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
At beginning of the period	22,088	42,229
At end of the period	16,662	30,451
Asterias Biotherapeutics [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to BioTime, Inc. to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain on deconsolidation	0	(49,048)
Unrealized (gain) loss on equity method investment in Asterias at fair value	26,097	(26,532)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Deconsolidation of cash and cash equivalents	0	(8,376)
Ascendance Biotechnology, Inc. [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to BioTime, Inc. to net cash used in operating activities:
BioTime's share of losses in equity method investment	0	1,189
OncoCyte Corporation [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to BioTime, Inc. to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain on deconsolidation	(71,697)	0
Unrealized (gain) loss on equity method investment in Asterias at fair value	(39,620)	0
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Deconsolidation of cash and cash equivalents	$ (8,898)	$ 0