EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in  Registration  Statement  Nos.
33-56766,  33-88968  and  333-30603  of BioTime,  Inc. on Form S-8 of our report
dated August 25, 1997 (which  expresses an  unqualified  opinion and includes an
explanatory  paragraph  related  to  the  development  stage  of  the  Company's
operations),  appearing in the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of BioTime,  Inc. for
the year ended June 30, 1997.

We also  consent to the  reference to us under the heading  "Selected  Financial
Data" in such Form 10- K.



San Francisco, California
September 23, 1997

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