one percent of the time = ?

Does "one percent of the time " mean:

If the lifespan of DNA is 100 days, then there will be 24 hours when DNA exists in another form (different to the typical double helix)?

Context:

"We show that the simple DNA double helix exists in an alternative form -- for one percent of the time -- and that this alternative form is functional," said Hashim M. Al-Hashimi, who is the Robert L. Kuczkowski Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Biophysics at U-M. "Together, these data suggest that there are multiple layers of information stored in the genetic code." The findings were published online Jan. 26 in the journal Nature.

More:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110128104244.htm