( BW)(BIOTIME)(BTIM) BioTime Commences Rights Offering


   BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 1997--BioTime Inc.

(NASDAQ:BTIM) announced that it commenced its rights offering under

which it will offer 283,109 common shares to its shareholders.



   Shareholders will receive one right for each share owned.  The

rights entitle the holders to purchase one common share for each ten

rights owned at a subscription price of $20 per share.  Shareholders

who exercise all of their rights in full will be entitled to the

additional privilege of subscribing for and purchasing, subject to

certain limitations and subject to allocation, any common shares not

acquired by other holders of rights through the exercise of the

rights.



   The rights offering will expire at 5 p.m. New York time on

Feb. 4, 1997.  The record date for determining BioTime shareholders

entitled to receive the rights is Dec. 27, 1996.  The rights are

transferable and have been approved for trading on the NASDAQ

SmallCap market, commencing Jan. 14, 1997.  American Stock Transfer

& Trust Co. will act as the Subscription Agent for the Rights

offering.



   BioTime, headquartered in Berkeley, is engaged in the research

and development of synthetic blood plasma volume expanders and low

temperature blood substitute solutions and technology for use in

surgery, emergency trauma treatment, the preservation of organs

awaiting transplant, and other applications.



   CONTACT: BioTime Inc., Berkeley

             Victoria Bellport, 510/845-9535