EXHIBIT 5.1

                                   LAW OFFICES
               LIPPENBERGER, THOMPSON, WELCH, SOROKO & GILBERT LLP
                              201 TAMAL VISTA BLVD.
                           CORTE MADERA, CA 94925-1110
                                 (415) 927-5200


                                                                   FACSIMILE
                                                                  (415) 927-5210

                                                            SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE
                                                                  (415) 262-1200

                                December 17, 2001

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

    Re:   BioTime, Inc.
       Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies/Gentlemen:

    We are counsel to BioTime, Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the offer
and sale of up to  1,673,569  Common  Shares (the  "Shares")  including  844,730
shares that are presently  issued and  outstanding  and 876,657 shares  issuable
upon the exercise of certain warrants (the "Warrants").  The Warrants and Shares
are being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a
Registration Statement on Form S-3.

    We are of the opinion that the  Warrants are legally and validly  issued and
outstanding  and  constitute  binding  obligations  of BioTime,  enforceable  in
accordance  with  their  terms.  We are  also of the  opinion  that  the  Shares
presently   outstanding  are  legally  and  validly   issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable.  We are also of the  opinion  that when the Shares are issued and
sold  upon the  exercise  of the  Warrants,  in  accordance  with the  terms and
provisions  of the Warrants,  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 & Gilbert LLP