X-shapes = conformation?

1) X-shapes = conformation = these large, non-random structures?

2) spend the time clumped = spend the time clumping (the conformation together)?

Context:

"People are familiar with the X-shapes our chromosomes form during cell division, but what they may not realize is that DNA only spends a relatively small amount of time in that conformation," said Ken-ichi Noma, Ph.D., an assistant professor in Wistar's Gene Expression and Regulation program and senior author of the study. "Chromosomes spend the majority of their time clumped together in these large, non-random structures, and I believe these shapes reflect various nuclear processes such as transcription."

More:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101029122215.htm