Exhibit 5

                                   LAW OFFICES
                   LIPPENBERGER, THOMPSON, WELCH & SOROKO LLP
                              250 MONTGOMERY STREET
                                    SUITE 500
                             SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104

                                (415) 421-5300
                            FACSIMILE (415) 421-0225


                                        June 30, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

         Re:      BioTime, Inc.
                  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies/Gentlemen:

         We are counsel to BioTime,  Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the
offer and sale of up to 200,000 Common Shares (the  "Shares")  issuable upon the
exercise of a like number of options  (the  "Options")  that may be granted from
time to time  under the  Company's  1992 Stock  Option  Plan,  as  amended  (the
"Plan").  The offer and sale of the Options and Shares is being registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  pursuant to a Registration Statement on
Form S-8.

         We are of the opinion that when the Options are granted under the terms
and  provisions of the Plan,  the Options will be the legally and validly issued
and  outstanding  and  will  constitute  binding  obligations  of  the  Company,
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 Options,  in  accordance
with the terms and  provisions  of the Options and the Plan,  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 LLP