Stock Option Plans (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | |
Period when options may not be granted or exercised | 10 years | | |
Weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted (in dollars per share) | $ 0 | $ 0 | |
2002 Plan and 2012 Plan [Member] | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | |
Total unrecognized compensation costs | $ 6 | | |
Weighted average recognition period | 2 years 9 months 22 days | | |
Weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted (in dollars per share) | $ 1.69 | $ 2.13 | $ 2.78 |
Weighted-average Assumptions [Abstract] | | | |
Expected life | 5 years 9 months 29 days | 5 years 7 months 13 days | 6 years 8 months 1 day |
Risk-free interest rates | 1.45% | 1.70% | 2.19% |
Volatility | 61.24% | 65.82% | 83.20% |
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Increase in option pool (in shares) | | 6,000,000 | |
Options exercised (in shares) | | 0 | 0 |
Restricted stock issued (in shares) | (200,000) | | |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Increase in option pool (in shares) | | 0 | |
Options exercised (in shares) | | (156,000) | (2,060,000) |
Restricted stock issued (in shares) | 100,000 | | |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Increase in option pool (in dollars per share) | | $ 0 | |
Options exercised (in dollars per share) | | $ 4 | $ 0.58 |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Beginning of the period (in shares) | 5,257,000 | 668,000 | 2,315,000 |
Increase option pool (in shares) | | 6,000,000 | |
Restricted stock issued (in shares) | (200,000) | | |
Common stock issued to consultant in lieu of cash (in shares) | (28,000) | | |
Common stock issued to employee for bonuses in lieu of cash (in shares) | (135,000) | | |
Exercised (in shares) | | 0 | 0 |
End of the period (in shares) | 2,894,000 | 5,257,000 | 668,000 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares) | 5,194,000 | 3,974,000 | 4,567,000 |
Increase option pool (in shares) | | 0 | |
Exercised (in shares) | | (156,000) | (2,060,000) |
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares) | 6,958,000 | 5,194,000 | 3,974,000 |
Number of RSUs Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Warrants Outstanding Beginning Balance (in shares) | 0 | | |
RSUs (in shares) | 100,000 | | |
Warrants Outstanding Ending Balance (in shares) | 100,000 | 0 | |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 3.93 | $ 4.04 | $ 2.71 |
Increase option pool (in dollars per share) | | 0 | |
Exercised (in dollars per share) | | 4 | 0.58 |
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share) | 3.60 | $ 3.93 | $ 4.04 |
2002 Plan and 2012 Plan [Member] | 2.52-3.96 [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Range Limit (in dollars per share) | 2.52 | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Range Limit (in dollars per share) | $ 3.96 | | |
Number Outstanding (in shares) | 5,349,000 | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Avg. Remaining Contractual Life | 7 years 2 months 16 days | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 3.32 | | |
Number Exercisable (in shares) | 2,080,000 | | |
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 3.46 | | |
2002 Plan and 2012 Plan [Member] | 4.02-4.95 [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Range Limit (in dollars per share) | 4.02 | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Range Limit (in dollars per share) | $ 4.95 | | |
Number Outstanding (in shares) | 1,429,000 | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Avg. Remaining Contractual Life | 3 years 9 months 18 days | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 4.25 | | |
Number Exercisable (in shares) | 1,225,000 | | |
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 4.26 | | |
2002 Plan and 2012 Plan [Member] | 5.02-8.58 [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Range Limit (in dollars per share) | 5.02 | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Range Limit (in dollars per share) | $ 8.58 | | |
Number Outstanding (in shares) | 180,000 | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Avg. Remaining Contractual Life | 10 months 2 days | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 6.94 | | |
Number Exercisable (in shares) | 179,000 | | |
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 6.95 | | |
2002 Plan and 2012 Plan [Member] | $2.52-$8.58 [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Lower Range Limit (in dollars per share) | 2.52 | | |
Range of Exercise Prices, Upper Range Limit (in dollars per share) | $ 8.58 | | |
Number Outstanding (in shares) | 6,958,000 | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Avg. Remaining Contractual Life | 6 years 4 months 2 days | | |
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 3.60 | | |
Number Exercisable (in shares) | 3,484,000 | | |
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ 3.92 | | |
2002 Plan [Member] | | | |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Options expired/forfeited/cancelled (in shares) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Options forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | (236,000) | (35,000) | (179,000) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Options forfeited/cancelled (in dollars per share) | $ 5.17 | $ 6.72 | $ 4.32 |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | (236,000) | (35,000) | (179,000) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share) | $ 5.17 | $ 6.72 | $ 4.32 |
2012 Plan [Member] | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | |
Common shares reserved for future issuance (in shares) | | | 10,000,000 |
Period when options may not be granted or exercised | | | 10 years |
Common shares vested issued in lieu of cash (in shares) | 81,603 | | |
Number of shares available for grant (in shares) | 163,000 | | |
Common shares issued or RSU granted (in shares) | 2 | | |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Options granted (in shares) | (2,315,000) | (1,650,000) | (2,170,000) |
Options expired/forfeited/cancelled (in shares) | 315,000 | 239,000 | 523,000 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Options granted (in shares) | 2,315,000 | 1,650,000 | 2,170,000 |
Options forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | (315,000) | (239,000) | (524,000) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Options granted (in dollars per share) | $ 3.03 | $ 3.72 | $ 3.54 |
Options forfeited/cancelled (in dollars per share) | $ 3.77 | $ 3.82 | $ 3.72 |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Granted (in shares) | (2,315,000) | (1,650,000) | (2,170,000) |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | 315,000 | 239,000 | 523,000 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Granted (in shares) | 2,315,000 | 1,650,000 | 2,170,000 |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | (315,000) | (239,000) | (524,000) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 3.03 | $ 3.72 | $ 3.54 |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share) | $ 3.77 | $ 3.82 | $ 3.72 |
OncoCyte, OrthoCyte and ReCyte Therapeutics Stock Option Plans [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Authorize number of shares under stock option plan (in shares) | 4,000,000 | | |
BioTime Asia Stock Option Plan [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Authorize number of shares under stock option plan (in shares) | 1,600 | | |
OncoCyte Common Stock Option Plans [Member] | | | |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Beginning of the period (in shares) | 1,757,000 | 1,278,000 | 1,250,000 |
Increase in option pool (in shares) | | 4,000,000 | |
Options granted (in shares) | (962,000) | (2,875,000) | (1,590,000) |
Options exercised (in shares) | 0 | 0 | |
Options expired/forfeited/cancelled (in shares) | 35,000 | 1,121,000 | 28,000 |
2 for 1 reverse stock split (in shares) | | (1,762,000) | |
Options granted after reverse stock split (in shares) | | (10,000) | |
Options forfeited/cancelled after reverse stock split (in shares) | | 5,000 | |
Restricted stock issued (in shares) | | | (400,000) |
Options expired (in shares) | 50,000 | | |
End of the period (in shares) | 880,000 | 1,757,000 | 1,278,000 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in shares) | 2,240,000 | 2,722,000 | 2,750,000 |
Increase in option pool (in shares) | | 0 | |
Options granted (in shares) | 962,000 | 2,875,000 | 1,590,000 |
Options exercised (in shares) | (100,000) | (6,000) | (3,000) |
Options forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | (35,000) | (1,121,000) | (28,000) |
2 for 1 reverse stock split (in shares) | | (2,235,000) | |
Options granted after reverse stock split (in shares) | | 10,000 | |
Options forfeited/cancelled after reverse stock split (in shares) | | (5,000) | |
Options expired (in shares) | (50,000) | | |
Restricted stock issued (in shares) | | | 200,000 |
Outstanding, end of the period (in shares) | 3,017,000 | 2,240,000 | 2,722,000 |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 2.94 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.76 |
Increase in option pool (in dollars per share) | | 0 | |
Options granted (in dollars per share) | 3.58 | 1.10 | 2.50 |
Options exercised (in dollars per share) | 2.19 | 0.67 | 2.34 |
Options forfeited/cancelled (in dollars per share) | 2.03 | 0.79 | 1 |
2 for 1 reverse stock split (in dollars per shares) | | 2.02 | |
Options granted after reverse stock split (in dollars per share) | | 3.60 | |
Options forfeited/cancelled after reverse stock split (in dollars per share) | | 2 | 2.34 |
Options expired (in dollars per share) | 2 | | |
Outstanding end of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 2.52 | $ 2.94 | $ 0.76 |
Shares Available for Grant [Roll Forward] | | | |
Increase option pool (in shares) | | 4,000,000 | |
Granted (in shares) | (962,000) | (2,875,000) | (1,590,000) |
Restricted stock issued (in shares) | | | (400,000) |
Exercised (in shares) | 0 | 0 | |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | 35,000 | 1,121,000 | 28,000 |
Number of Options Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
Increase option pool (in shares) | | 0 | |
Granted (in shares) | 962,000 | 2,875,000 | 1,590,000 |
Exercised (in shares) | (100,000) | (6,000) | (3,000) |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in shares) | (35,000) | (1,121,000) | (28,000) |
Number of RSUs Outstanding [Roll Forward] | | | |
RSUs (in shares) | | | 200,000 |
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward] | | | |
Increase option pool (in dollars per share) | | $ 0 | |
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 3.58 | 1.10 | $ 2.50 |
Exercised (in dollars per share) | 2.19 | 0.67 | 2.34 |
Forfeited/cancelled/expired (in dollars per share) | $ 2.03 | $ 0.79 | $ 1 |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Authorize number of shares under stock option plan (in shares) | 4,000,000 | | |
Cell Cure Neurosciences' Option Plan [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Authorize number of shares under stock option plan (in shares) | 125,363 | | |
Lifemap Stock Option Plan [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Authorize number of shares under stock option plan (in shares) | 8,000,000 | | |
LifeMap Solutions, Inc [Member] | | | |
Additional Information regarding options outstanding [Abstract] | | | |
Authorize number of shares under stock option plan (in shares) | 18,667 | | |