As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 1996

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-A

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 (b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

GERON CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                                      75-2287752
(State of incorporation or organization)                    (IRS Employer
                                                            Identification No.)

200 CONSTITUTION DRIVE, MENLO PARK, CA                        94025
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class                 Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered                 each class is to be registered

       Not Applicable                        Not Applicable

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $0.001 par value
(Title of Class)


Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered

Incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Description of Capital Stock" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-05853) (the "Registration Statement").

Item 2. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as a part of this

Registration Statement:

1        Specimen certificate for Registrant's Common
         Stock.

2.1      Certificate of Incorporation -- incorporated
         herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the
         Company's Registration Statement.

2.2      Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation to be filed with the Delaware
         Secretary of State to effect the Company's
         1-for-3.4 reverse stock split --
         incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
         3.3 to the Company's Registration Statement.

2.3      Bylaws - incorporated herein by reference to
         Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration
         Statement.

2.4      Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws to be
         effective upon the closing of the Company's
         initial public offering of shares of its
         Common Stock -- incorporated herein by
         reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's
         Registration Statement.

-2-

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Date: June 12, 1996                         GERON CORPORATION


                                            By: /s/ David L. Greenwood
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            David L. Greenwood, Chief Financial
                                            Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

-3-

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                                     Sequentially
Exhibit No.                              Description                                 Numbered Page
-----------                              -----------                                 -------------
    1            Specimen certificate for Registrant's Common Stock.

    2.1          Certificate of Incorporation -- incorporated herein by       Incorporated by reference
                 reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Registration
                 Statement
    2.2          Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation    Incorporated by reference
                 to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State to effect
                 the Company's 1-for-3.4 reverse stock split --
                 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the
                 Company's Registration Statement.
    2.3          Bylaws -- incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2    Incorporated by
                 to the Company's Registration Statement.                     reference
    2.4          Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws to be effective upon     Incorporated by reference
                 the closing of the Company's initial public offering
                 of shares of its Common Stock -- incorporated herein
                 by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Registration
                 Statement.

-4-

EXHIBIT 1

           NUMBER                                                                                       SHARES

                                                            GERON

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF                                                            SEE REVERSE FOR STATEMENTS RELATING
    THE STATE OF DELAWARE                                                                      TO RIGHTS, PREFERENCES,
                                                                                          PRIVILEGES AND RESTRICTIONS, IF ANY

                                                                                                   CUSIP 374163 10 3


This Certifies that










is the owner of



                      FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE, OF

                                                      GERON CORPORATION

      transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized Attorney
      upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned and
      registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

         WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.


      Dated


                                                       GERON CORPORATION
                                                          CORPORATE
              /s/ David L. Greenwood                         SEAL                          /s/ Ronald W. Eastman
                                                           NOV. 28,
      VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER             1990                   PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                                           DELAWARE



COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
   U.S. STOCK TRANSFER CORPORATION
         (GLENDALE, CA)
           TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

BY

                   AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE


A statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights as established, from time to time, by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation and by any certificate of determination, the number of shares constituting each class and series, and the designations thereof, may be obtained by the holder hereof upon request and without charge at the principal office of the Corporation.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM -- as tenants in common                                 UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- _______________ Custodian _______________
TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties                                                  (Cust)                    (Minor)
JT TEN  -- as joint tenants with right of                                            under Uniform Gifts to Minors
           survivorship and not as tenants                                           Act _____________________________________
           in common                                                                                  (State)
                                                                UNIF TRF MIN ACT  -- ____________ Custodian (until age _______)
                                                                                        (Cust)
                                                                                     ________________  under Uniform Transfers
                                                                                         (Minor)
                                                                                     to Minors Act ___________________________
                                                                                                              (State)



                          Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE



(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)


________________________________________________________________________ Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

______________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated ___________________________________

X _______________________________________

X _______________________________________

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT
MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS
WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE
IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION
OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

Signature(s) Guaranteed

By _____________________________________________ THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.