The cell/plasma membrane of a bacterium living in a salty aquatic environment contains a membrane channel protein called MelB. When this bacterium is placed in a hypertonic solution that models/mimics its natural habitat, MelB facilitates the uptake of the sugar melibiose along with sodium ions (Na+).

The hypothetical scenario has the major drawback in that it will only provide qualitative data, as opposed to the quantitative data, that the original method allows.